Materials and Methods Relating to the Induction of Apoptosis in Target Cells

Abstract

Compositions, methods, uses and assemblages for the preferential induction of cell division cycle arrest and/or apoptosis, in a first population of cells compared to a second population of cells employ either: (i) an opioid or opioid-like agent and an NF-κB activating agent, which agents are other than the opioid-like agent trans-U50488 in combination with an NF-κB activating agent selected from etoposide and nocodazole; (ii) a ligand for a sigma receptor, or (iii) an opioid or opioid-like agent wherein the cells of the first population are other than tumour cells.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
   
   
       48 : A method for treatment of cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, said method comprising contacting the cancer cells with a therapeutically effective amount of rimcazole. 
   
   
       49 : The method of  claim 48 , wherein said cancer cells are contacted with a concentration of rimcazole of 10 micromolar or less. 
   
   
       50 : The method of  claim 48 , wherein said cancer cells are contacted with a concentration of rimcazole of less than 1 micromolar. 
   
   
       51 : The method of  claim 48 , wherein said cancer is selected from the group of breast cancer, lung cancer, or Hodgkin's lymphoma. 
   
   
       52 : The method of  claim 48 , further comprising the administration of an agonist for a kappa receptor. 
   
   
       53 : The method of  claim 48 , further comprising the administration of at least one additional sigma receptor ligand. 
   
   
       54 : The method of  claim 48 , wherein the cancer cells are p53 null tumor cells. 
   
   
       55 : The method of  claim 48 , wherein the cancer cells are characterized by the presence of constitutively activated NF-kappaB in cells where it would not normally be found. 
   
   
       56 : A method for the preferential induction of apoptosis in a population of tumor cells in a human compared to a population of non-tumor cells in a human, said method comprising exposing the first and second population of cells to rimcazole. 
   
   
       57 : The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cells are exposed to rimcazole at a concentration of 10 micromolar or less. 
   
   
       58 : The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cells are exposed to rimcazole at a concentration of less than 1 micromolar. 
   
   
       59 : The method of  claim 56 , further comprising exposing the cells to an agonist for a kappa receptor. 
   
   
       60 : The method of  claim 56 , further comprising exposing the cells to at least one additional sigma receptor ligands. 
   
   
       61 : The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cells of the population of tumor cells are p53 null tumor cells. 
   
   
       62 : The method of  claim 56 , wherein the cells of the population of tumor cells are characterized by the presence of constitutively activated NF-kappaB in cells where it would not normally be found.