Methods and compositions for use in the prevention, treatment and/or alleviation of cancer

Abstract

The ratio of zinc and cadmium is of significance for error-free proliferation and differentiation of cells. An understanding of the role of cadmium in the etiology of cancer offers possibilities to gain a better understanding of cancer as well as possibilities to prevent, treat and/or alleviate cancer. The concentration of Zn(II) in fetal serum, human serum from umbilical cord blood or healthy donors, and in avian serum including intact eggs and egg products has significance for the reliability and repeatability of cell and tissue culture method using said serum, or serum containing products, or eggs. Disclosed is a method in the manufacture of serum products, in particular serum products intended for use in in vitro culture of mammalian cells or tissues, wherein the concentration of Zn(II) is determined, and preferably adjusted to a desired interval. Different products consisting of or containing serum or serum fractions are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for processing donor blood, comprising collecting blood from a donor; determining a concentration of cadmium in the collected blood; and disqualifying the collected blood for human use if the collected blood has a concentration of cadmium greater than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising asking the donor if he/she is a smoker or has been habitually smoking but stopped, wherein the determining step carried out in response to a positive indication returned from the donor. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein human use is defined as the administration of a blood transfusion to a cancer patient as part of a cancer treatment, or for mitigating a side effect of a cancer treatment, 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the concentration of cadmium is determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein donor blood is disqualified for human use when the concentration of cadmium is above 5 nmol/l. 
     
     
         6 . A method for the manufacture of a serum product, comprising determining a concentration of Zn(II) in a serum batch, and adjusting the concentration in the serum batch to a desired interval. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the concentration of Zn(II) is adjusted to an interval of about 50 to about 200 μmol/l. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the serum product is a serum supplemented culture medium, and the concentration of Zn(II) in the serum supplemented culture medium is adjusted to an interval of about 10 to about 20 μmol/l. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the concentration of Zn(II) is determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the concentration of Zn(II) is adjusted by removal or addition of exosomes. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein an exosome fraction is concentrated and removed by ultracentrifugation, and said exosome fraction is used to adjust the concentration of Zn(II) in the serum product. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the concentrations of Zn(II) and Cd in said product are determined, and indicated on a package for the product or in an accompanying product data sheet. 
     
     
         13 . A serum product wherein the concentration of Zn(II) has been determined, and adjusted to an interval of about 50 to about 200 μmol/l. 
     
     
         14 . The serum product according to  claim 13 , wherein the source of serum is fetal serum. 
     
     
         15 . The serum product according to  claim 13 , wherein the source of serum is donor blood. 
     
     
         16 . The serum product according to  claim 13 , wherein the concentrations of Zn(II) and Cd in said product have been determined, and are indicated on a package for the product or in an accompanying product data sheet. 
     
     
         17 . A serum product wherein the serum product is a serum supplemented culture medium, and the concentration of Zn(II) in the serum supplemented culture medium is adjusted to an interval of about 10 to about 20 μmol/l. 
     
     
         18 . The serum product according to  claim 17 , wherein the source of serum is fetal serum. 
     
     
         19 . The serum product according to  claim 17 , wherein the source of serum is donor blood. 
     
     
         20 . The serum product according to  claim 17 , wherein the concentrations of Zn(II) and Cd in said product have been determined, and are indicated on a package for the product or in an accompanying product data sheet.