Methods and materials for treating cytokine release syndrome

Abstract

This document relates to methods and materials involved in treating a mammal having, or at risk of developing, cytokine release syndrome (CRS). For example, a mammal having, or at risk of developing, CRS can be treated by administering one or more biguanides (e.g., metformin) to the mammal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for treating a mammal having cytokine release syndrome (CRS), wherein said method comprises administering to said mammal a composition comprising a biguanide, wherein the severity of said CRS is reduced within said mammal. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said biguanide is metformin. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said CRS is associated with an immunotherapy. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said immunotherapy comprises chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said immunotherapy comprises bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE) therapy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said BiTE therapy comprises administering blinatumumab to said mammal. 
     
     
         8 . A method for treating a mammal at risk of developing CRS, wherein said mammal is scheduled to undergo immunotherapy, wherein said method comprises administering to said mammal a composition comprising a biguanide. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said biguanide is metformin. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said immunotherapy comprises CAR-T cell therapy. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said immunotherapy comprises BiTE therapy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said BiTE therapy comprises administering blinatumumab to said mammal. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said composition comprising said biguanide is administered to said mammal prior to said immunotherapy. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said composition comprising said biguanide is administered to said mammal concurrent with said immunotherapy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said mammal does not develop said CRS following said administering step. 
     
     
         17 . A method for treating a mammal having cancer, wherein said cancer comprises cancer cells having IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) polypeptides on the surface of said cancer cells, wherein said method comprises administering to said mammal a composition comprising a biguanide. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said mammal is a human. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said IL-6R polypeptides are IL-6Rα polypeptides. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said cancer is a blood cancer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein said blood cancer is a multiple myeloma. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said method further comprises administering an agent used to reduce levels of IL-6R polypeptides to said mammal. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said agent is an anti-IL-6R antibody. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein said anti-IL-6R antibody is tocilizumab. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said mammal is a mammal identified as having said cancer cells. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said method comprises identifying said mammal as having said cancer cells.