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 conditioned culture medium which has a cancer cell proliferation-inhibiting effect produced by a process comprising the steps of entrapping cancer cells in a biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure comprising agarose, culturing the entrapped cancer cells in culture medium to restrict proliferation of said entrapped cancer cells, wherein growth of said cancer cells is restricted by entrapment in said structure so that they produce a material that suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells which permeates through said structure into said culture medium to produce conditioned culture medium, and collecting the conditioned culture medium.  
   
   
       55 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure is a bead.  
   
   
       56 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 55 , wherein said bead is a solid, agarose coated, agarose containing bead.  
   
   
       57 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said material has a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd.  
   
   
       58 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are epithelial cells.  
   
   
       59 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are breast cancer cells, renal cancer cells, prostate cancer cells or choriocarcinoma cells.  
   
   
       60 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are human cancer cells.  
   
   
       61 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are mouse cancer cells.  
   
   
       62 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said structure contains from about 10,000 to about 500,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       63 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 54 , wherein said structure contains from about 30,000 to about 250,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       64 . A frozen conditioned culture medium which has a cancer cell proliferation-inhibiting effect produced by a process comprising the steps of entrapping cancer cells in a biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure comprising agarose, culturing the entrapped cancer cells in culture medium to restrict proliferation of said entrapped cancer cells, wherein growth of said cancer cells is restricted by entrapment in said structure so that they produce a material that suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells which permeates through said structure into said culture medium to produce conditioned culture medium, recovering the conditioned culture medium and freezing the recovered conditioned culture medium.  
   
   
       65 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said biocompatible, selectively-permeable structure is a bead.  
   
   
       66 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 65 , wherein said bead is a solid, agarose coated, agarose containing bead.  
   
   
       67 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said material has a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd.  
   
   
       68 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are epithelial cells.  
   
   
       69 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are breast cancer cells, renal cancer cells, prostate cancer cells or choriocarcinoma cells.  
   
   
       70 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are human cancer cells.  
   
   
       71 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said entrapped cancer cells are mouse cancer cells.  
   
   
       72 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said structure contains from about 10,000 to about 500,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       73 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 64 , wherein said structure contains from about 30,000 to about 250,000 cancer cells.  
   
   
       74 . The conditioned culture medium of  claim 55 , wherein said bead is a solid, agarose and collagen, agarose coated bead.  
   
   
       75 . The frozen conditioned culture medium of  claim 65 , wherein said bead is a solid, agarose and collagen, agarose coated bead.