Taurine compounds

Abstract

The invention provides a method of inhibiting tumor growth by contacting the tumor with a composition containing a taurine compound. The composition is administered to contact a tumor cell at a dose sufficient to induce cell death.

1 . A method of inhibiting tumor growth, comprising contacting a tumor with a non-naturally occurring taurine compound.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor is a tumor of the central nervous system.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said tumor is selected from the group consisting of a neuroblastoma, an astrocytoma, a carcinomatous meningitis, a CNS lymphoma, and a glioma.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said composition comprises β-azidoethanesulfonyl azide.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising administering a chemotherapeutic agent selected from the group consisting of an antimetabolite, a purine or pyrimidine analogue, an alkylating agent, an intercalating agent, a crosslinking agent, and an antibiotic.  
     
     
         6 . A method of treating a tumor, comprising contacting a tumor with a non-naturally occurring taurine compound at a dose sufficient to inhibit growth of tumor cells or induce cell death.  
     
     
         7 . A method of treating a tumor, comprising contacting a tumor with a non-naturally occurring taurine compound at a dose which preferentially induces apoptotic death of tumor cells compared to non-tumor (normal) cells.  
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a tumor, comprising contacting a tumor with a non-naturally occurring azide derivative taurine compound at a dose sufficient to inhibit growth of tumor cells or induce cell death.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cytotoxicity level of the taurine compound is at least 20% that of taurolidine.  
     
     
         10 . A method of inhibiting bacterial growth, comprising contacting bacteria with a composition comprising a non-naturally occurring taurine compound.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , where the cytotoxicity level of the taurine compound is at least 20% that of taurolidine.  
     
     
         12 . A method of treating an autologous tumor, comprising contacting an autologous tumor with a non-naturally occurring taurine compound such that tumor growth is inhibited.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said tumor is selected from the group consisting of solid tumors, non-solid tumors, and lymphomas.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said tumor is selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, CNS cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, urinary bladder cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, or sarcoma.  
     
     
         15 . A method of treating a neurological tumor, comprising contacting a neurological tumor with a non-naturally occurring taurine compound such that tumor growth is inhibited.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said tumor is selected from the group consisting of glioma, glioblastoma, astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, and CNS metastasis from a non-CNS primary tumor.  
     
     
         17 . A combination therapy for inhibiting tumor growth, comprising administering to a patient in need a non-naturally occurring taurine compound in combination with a second antineoplastic agent.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said second antineoplastic agent is selected from the group consisting of an antimetabolite, a purine or pyrimidine analogue, an alkylating agent, a crosslinking agent, an intercalating agent, carmustine and an antibiotic.  
     
     
         19 . A method of inhibiting neoplastic cell growth, comprising directly contacting neoplastic cells with a non-naturally occurring taurine compound.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said neoplastic cells are in tumors selected from the group consisting of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, CNS cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, urinary bladder cancer, lymphoma, leukemia, and sarcoma.  
     
     
         21 . A method of inhibiting cancer cells, comprising directly contacting neoplastic cells with a topical composition comprising a non-naturally occurring taurine compound.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said topical composition is selected from the group consisting of a therapeutic film-forming composition containing or coated with a taurine compound, an ointment, a paste, a spray, a patch, a cream, a gel, a sponge, and a foam.  
     
     
         23 . A method of treating prostate cancer, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a non-naturally occurring taurine compound.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said compound is a stable solution thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said non-naturally occurring taurine compound is administered in a dosage range of from about 0.1 mg/kg to about 750 mg/kg.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said non-naturally occurring taurine compound is administered at a concentration of from about 5 to about 100 μM.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said non-naturally occurring taurine compound is administered at a concentration of from about 10 to about 20 μM.  
     
     
         28 . A method of inhibiting tumor growth, comprising contacting a tumor with a non-naturally occurring taurine compound with an IC 50  of <5.0 against human ovarian tumor cells such that tumor growth is inhibited.