Use of nobiletin in cancer treatment

Abstract

The present invention discloses a pharmaceutical composition of treating multidrug resistance cancer, comprising a citrus methoxyflavone and a chemotherapeutic drug, in which the citrus methoxyflavone is nobiletin. A method of treating multidrug resistance cancer comprising administrating citrus methoxyflavone and a chemotherapeutic drug is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pharmaceutical composition for treating multidrug resistance cancer, comprising a citrus methoxyflavone and a chemotherapeutic drug. 
     
     
         2 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said citrus methoxyflavone can inhibit function of ABCB1 transporter such that intracellular accumulation of said chemotherapeutic drug is increased. 
     
     
         3 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said citrus methoxyflavone is nobiletin. 
     
     
         4 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein said chemotherapeutic drug is selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, docetaxel, doxorubicin and daunorubicin. 
     
     
         5 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 1 , wherein the multidrug resistance cancer is paclitaxel-resistant cancer. 
     
     
         6 . The pharmaceutical composition of  claim 5 , wherein the paclitaxel-resistant cancer is paclitaxel-resistant non-small cell lung cancer or paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         7 . A method of treating multidrug resistance cancer, comprising administrating a pharmaceutically effective amount of a citrus methoxyflavone and a chemotherapeutic drug to a subject in need thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said citrus methoxyflavone can inhibit function of ABCB1 transporter such that intracellular accumulation of said chemotherapeutic drug is increased. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the citrus methoxyflavone is nobiletin. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the chemotherapeutic drug is selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, docetaxel, doxorubicin and daunorubicin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the multi-drugs resistance cancer is paclitaxel-resistant cancer. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the paclitaxel-resistant cancer is paclitaxel-resistant non-small cell lung cancer or paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer. 
     
     
         13 . A method of enhancing the efficacy of a chemotherapeutic drug to treat multidrug resistance cancer, comprising:
 (a) administering said chemotherapeutic drug to the subject; and   (b) applying a citrus methoxyflavone.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said citrus methoxyflavone can inhibit function of ABCB1 transporter such that intracellular accumulation of said chemotherapeutic drug is increased. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the citrus methoxyflavone is nobiletin. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the chemotherapeutic drug is selected from the group consisting of paclitaxel, docetaxel, doxorubicin and daunorubicin. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the multi-drugs resistance cancer is paclitaxel-resistant cancer. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the paclitaxel-resistant cancer is paclitaxel-resistant non-small cell lung cancer or paclitaxel-resistant ovarian cancer.