System and device for preventing restenosis in body vessels

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and device for preventing stenosis and/or restenosis after an invasive procedure in a body vessel or cavity having an inner wall surface, the system comprising inserting a device coated with a growth arresting, lipid-derived, bioactive substance at a desired location along the inner wall surface of the body vessel or cavity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of preventing and/or treating stenosis at a site along a body vessel comprising administering to said site a lipid-derived bioactive compound which inhibits cell proliferation, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of ceramide or derivatives thereof, dimethyl sphingosine, ether-linked diglycerides, ether-linked phosphatidic acids and sphinganines.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said lipid-derived bioactive compound is ceramide or a derivative thereof, that contains a 2-10 carbon short-chain fatty acid at SN-2 position.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ceramide or derivative thereof is a C 6 -ceramide.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the C 6 -ceramide is administered at a dose sufficient to inhibit cell proliferation without inducing significant apoptosis.  
     
     
         5 . A method of preventing and/or treating hyperplasia at a site in a body lumen, comprising administering to said site an amount of a lipid-derived bioactive compound which inhibits cell proliferation without inducing significant apoptosis, wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of ceramide or derivatives thereof, dimethyl sphingosine, ether-linked diglycerides, ether-linked phosphatidic acids and sphinganines.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said growth-arresting, lipid-derived bioactive compound is ceramide or a derivative thereof, that contains a 2-10 carbon short-chain fatty acid at SN-2 position.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ceramide or derivative thereof is a C 6 -ceramide.  
     
     
         8 . An intraluminal system for preventing and/or treating neointimal hyperplasia at a site in a vessel, comprising: 
 a pharmaceutical formulation comprising a lipid-derived bioactive compound capable of inhibiting phosphorylation of a kinase, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and    a device adapted for intraluminal delivery of said pharmaceutical formulation to said site.    
     
     
         9 . The intraluminal system of  claim 8 , wherein said compound is selected from the group consisting of ceramide or derivatives thereof, dimethyl sphingosine, ether-linked diglycerides, ether-linked phosphatidic acids and sphinganines.  
     
     
         10 . The intraluminal system of  claim 9 , wherein said compound is ceramide or a derivative thereof, that contains a 2-10 carbon short-chain fatty acid at SN-2 position.  
     
     
         11 . The intraluminal system of  claim 10 , wherein the ceramide or derivative thereof is a C 6 -ceramide.  
     
     
         12 . A method of preventing and/or treating hyperplasia at a site in a body lumen, comprising administering to said site a growth-arresting, lipid-derived bioactive compound which inhibits phosphorylation of a growth factor-induced extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) and/or a protein kinase B (PKB).  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said growth-arresting, lipid-derived bioactive compound is selected from the group consisting of ceramide or derivatives thereof, dimethyl sphingosine, ether-linked diglycerides, ether-linked phosphatidic acids and sphinganines.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said growth-arresting, lipid-derived bioactive compound is ceramide or a derivative thereof, that contains a 2-10 carbon short-chain fatty acid at SN-2 position.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the ceramide or derivative thereof is a C 6 -ceramide.