Chemical resection of pancreas

Abstract

A method of chemically resecting the exocrine portion of the pancreas of a patient in need thereof comprising administering to the patient an amount of a hydroxy polyamine or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid sufficient to resect the exocrine portion of the pancreas thereof, but insufficient to substantially alter the endocrine portion thereof. The hydroxy polyamine has a structure according to the formula: wherein: R 1 and R 2 may be the same or different and are alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl or aralkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms; a, b, d and e may be the same or different and are integers from 1 to 4; and c is an integer from 2 to 6. A pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form comprising the hydroxy polyamine or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid for use in the method of the invention is also disclosed.

1 . (canceled)  
     
     
         2 . (canceled)  
     
     
         3 . A pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form comprising (1) an amount of a hydroxy polyamine or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid sufficient, when administered to a human or non-human mammal in need thereof, to resect the exocrine portion of the pancreas thereof, but insufficient to substantially alter the endocrine portion thereof, said hydroxy polyamine having a structure according to the formula:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein: R 1  and R 2  may be the same or different and are alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl or aralkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms; 
 a, b, d and e may be the same or different and are integers from 1 to 4; and  
 c is an integer from 2 to 6; and  
 (2) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.  
 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 3 , wherein said hydroxy polyamine has the formula: