Composition of restricted cancer cells which produce cancer cell proliferation suppressive materials, and uses thereof

Abstract

Compositions of matter are described which contain restricted cancer cells. When so restricted, the cells produce an unexpectedly high amount of material which suppresses cancer cell proliferation. The phenomenon crosses cancer type and species lines. Processes for making these compositions, and their use, are also described.

1 - 53 . (canceled)  
   
   
       54 . A method for determining if a composition of matter is useful in suppressing proliferation of cancer cells, comprising adding a sample of non-entrapped cancer cells to a culture medium, wherein said culture medium has been used to culture a composition of matter comprising a sample of cancer cells entrapped in a biocompatible, selectively permeable structure, culturing said sample of non-entrapped cancer cells in said culture medium for a defined period of time, and comparing proliferation of said non-entrapped cancer cells to a sample of said non-entrapped cancer cells in the same culture medium, wherein said culture medium has not been used to culture said composition of matter, wherein a decrease in proliferation indicates that said composition of matter is useful in suppressing proliferation of said non-entrapped cancer cells.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure comprises agarose.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure is a bead.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein said bead is a solid, agarose coated, agarose containing bead.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are epithelial cancer cells.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are breast cancer cells, renal cancer cells, prostate cancer cells or choriocarcinoma cells.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are human cancer cells.  
   
   
       61 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are mouse cancer cells.  
   
   
       62 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said structure contains from about 10,000 to about 500,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       63 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said structure contains from about 30,000 to about 250,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       64 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are of a type different from the non-entrapped cancer cells.  
   
   
       65 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are of the same type as the non-entrapped cancer cells.  
   
   
       66 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the non-entrapped cancer cells are human cancer cells.  
   
   
       67 . A method for determining if a composition of matter is useful in suppressing proliferation of cancer cells, comprising admixing a sample of non-entrapped cancer cells, culture medium, and a composition of matter comprising a sample of cancer cells entrapped in a biocompatible, selectively permeable structure, to form a first mixture, culturing said mixture for a defined period of time, and comparing proliferation of said non-entrapped cancer cells to a second mixture of said culture medium and said non-entrapped cancer cells, in the absence of said composition of matter, cultured for the same period of time, wherein a decrease in proliferation in said first mixture indicates that said composition of matter is useful in suppressing proliferation of said non-entrapped cancer cells.  
   
   
       68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure comprises agarose.  
   
   
       69 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure is a bead.  
   
   
       70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein said bead is a solid, agarose coated, agarose containing bead.  
   
   
       71 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are epithelial cancer cells.  
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are breast cancer cells, renal cancer cells, prostate cancer cells or choriocarcinoma cells.  
   
   
       73 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are human cancer cells.  
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are mouse cancer cells.  
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said structure contains from about 10,000 to about 500,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said structure contains from about 30,000 to about 250,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are of a type different from the non-entrapped cancer cells.  
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are of the same type as the non-entrapped cancer cells.  
   
   
       79 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the non-entrapped cancer cells are human cancer cells.  
   
   
       80 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively permeable structure comprises collagen.  
   
   
       81 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively permeable structure comprises collagen.