Therapy-enhancing glucan

Abstract

A therapeutic composition for treatment of cancer in a mammal is disclosed. The composition comprises an effective amount of a glucan composition which is suitable for oral administration and for absorption through the gastrointestinal tract of the mammal, and at least one antibody for the cancer. A method of treating cancer in a mammal is also disclosed. The method comprises administering a suitable orally administered glucan and at least one antibody for the treatment of cancer to the mammal. In addition a composition for delivery of peptide, protein, RNA, DNA or plasmid comprising effective amount of a beta-glucan is disclosed.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method for facilitating absorption of a DNA, RNA or plasmid in a subject, comprising orally administering an effective amount of a β-glucan and said DNA, RNA or plasmid, wherein expression of said DNA, RNA or plasmid after absorption is increased compared to oral administration in the absence of said β-glucan. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein expression of said DNA, RNA or plasmid is increased by up to about 6-fold in the presence of said β-glucan than in its absence. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein expression of said DNA, RNA or plasmid occurs in the monocytes of said subject. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said glucan is derived from yeast. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said β-glucan comprises β-1,3 bonds in the backbone and branches of β-1,3-linked glucose units, attached to the backbone via β-1,6 glycosidic bonds. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said glucan has an average molecular weight of about 15 to about 350 kD. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the subject is a human or animal. 
     
     
         31 . A method for increasing the expression of a DNA, RNA or plasmid in a subject, comprising orally administering said DNA, RNA or plasmid, and an amount of a β-glucan effective in increasing said expression. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said expression of DNA, RNA or plasmid is increased by up to about 6-fold in the presence of said β-glucan than in its absence. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said expression of DNA, RNA or plasmid occurs in the monocytes of said subject. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said glucan is derived from yeast. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said β-glucan comprises β-1,3 bonds in the backbone and branches of β-1,3-linked glucose units, attached to the backbone via β-1,6 glycosidic bonds. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said glucan has an average molecular weight of about 15 to about 350 kD. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the subject is a human or animal. 
     
     
         38 . A method for increasing the expression of a DNA, RNA or plasmid in a cell, comprising contacting said cell with said DNA, RNA or plasmid, and an amount of a β-glucan effective in increasing said expression. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said cell is a monocyte. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said glucan is derived from yeast. 
     
     
         41 . A method for delivering a DNA, RNA or plasmid into cells, comprising administering to said cells a composition comprising said DNA, RNA or plasmid, and an effective amount of a β-glucan. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said cells are monocytes. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said glucan is derived from yeast.