Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture for contributing to the treatment of cancers

Abstract

Methods, compositions and articles of manufacture for contributing to the treatment of cancers, including solid tumors, are disclosed. The methods, compositions and articles of manufacture can utilize an endothelin B agonist (ET B ) to enhance the delivery and resulting efficacy of a chemotherapeutic agent.

1 . A method of contributing to the treatment of a cancer comprising administering an endothelin B (ET B ) agonist and a chemotherapeutic agent.  
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said cancer is a solid tumor.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said solid tumor is selected from the group consisting of an ovarian tumor, a colon tumor, Kaposi's sarcoma, a breast tumor, a melanoma, a prostate tumor, a meningioma, a liver tumor, a breast phyllode tumor and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said ET B  agonist is selected from the group consisting of ET-1, ET-2, ET-3, BQ3020, IRL1620 (N-suc-[Glu 9 , Ala 11,15 ]ET-1 (8-21)), sarafotoxin 56c, [Ala 1,3,11,15 ]ET-1, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of adriamycin, camptothecin, carboplatin, cisplatin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, alpha interferon, beta interferon, gamma interferon, interleukin 2, irinotecan, docetaxel, paclitaxel, topotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 2  wherein said ET B  agonist selectively increases blood supply to said solid tumor.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein said increase in said blood supply to said tumor increases the delivery of said chemotherapeutic agent to said solid tumor.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said ET B  agonist and said chemotherapeutic agent are administered substantially simultaneously.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 8  wherein said ET B  agonist and said chemotherapeutic agent are administered as a single composition.  
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 1  wherein said ET B  agonist and said chemotherapeutic agent are administered sequentially.  
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is administered prior to said ET B  agonist or said ET B  agonist is administered prior to said chemotherapeutic agent.  
   
   
       12 . A composition comprising a chemotherapeutic agent, an ET B  agonist, and an optional excipient.  
   
   
       13 . An article of manufacture comprising a composition comprising an ET B  agonist, and instructional information directing the administration of said composition with a chemotherapeutic agent to treat a solid tumor.  
   
   
       14 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 13  further comprising said chemotherapeutic agent.  
   
   
       15 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 14  wherein said ET B  agonist and said chemotherapeutic agent are part of the same composition, are provided as separate compositions, or both.  
   
   
       16 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 14  wherein said ET B  agonist is selected from the group consisting of ET-1, ET-2, ET-3, BQ3020, IRL1 620 (N-suc-[Glu 9 , Ala 1,3,11,15 ]ET-1 (8-21)), sarafotoxin 56c, [Ala 11,15 ]ET-1, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       17 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 14  wherein said ET B  agonist is IRL1620.  
   
   
       18 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 14  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of adriamycin, camptothecin, carboplatin, cisplatin, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, alpha interferon, beta interferon, gamma interferon, interleukin 2, irinotecan, docetaxel, paclitaxel, topotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       19 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 14  wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is paclitaxel.  
   
   
       20 . An article of manufacture according to  claim 14  wherein said ET B  agonist is IRL1620 and said chemotherapeutic agent is selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and combinations thereof.