Compositions And Methods For Treating Glioma

Abstract

Isolated peptides, compositions and methods of use for treating tumors infiltrated with macrophages, such as glioblastomas.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating glioma, the method comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a peptide capable of inhibiting GM-CSF activity, wherein said peptide comprises an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said peptide consists of 7-20 amino acids. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said peptide consists of the amino acid sequence set forth in an amino acid sequence set forth in any one of SEQ ID NO: 3 to SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said peptide is a cyclic peptide. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said peptide is fused to a peptide assisting transport through the blood brain barrier (BBB). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said peptide assisting transport through the blood brain barrier comprises a molecular Trojan horse. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutical acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said pharmaceutical acceptable carrier is selected from the group consisting of: an aqueous solution, vegetable oil, alcohol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol or glycerin. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said glioma is selected from the group consisting of: ependymoma, astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, glioblastoma, or a mixed glioma. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method for treating glioma involves one of reducing phagocytosis, reducing motility, reducing proliferation of tumor infiltrating macrophages having pro-tumor activity, and reducing secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines or chemokines by macrophages. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said method further involves attenuating the invasiveness of glioma cells. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said method comprises topical administration, subcutaneous administration, intravenous administration, intramuscular administration and a combination thereof.