Treatment for neoplastic diseases

Abstract

Administration of a mAb that specifically binds IL-1α is useful for treating tumor-associated diseases in human subjects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of stabilizing a progressive cancer in a human patient having cancer that has progressed after treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or biologic agents, the method comprising the step of repeatedly administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an anti-interleukin-1alpha (anti-IL-1α) antibody at least until the progression of the cancer has been stabilized. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the human patient's progressive cancer is metastatic, and the step of repeatedly administering the pharmaceutical composition results in a decrease in the tumor burden in the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the progressive cancer is metastatic colorectal cancer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the progressive cancer is metastatic colorectal cancer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the progressive cancer is metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the progressive cancer is metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. 
     
     
         7 . A method of reducing the size of a tumor in a human patient with nasopharyngeal carcinoma that was previously treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or biologic agents, the method comprising the step of repeatedly administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an anti-IL-1α antibody at least until the size of the tumor is reduced. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the patient has at least one symptom selected from the group consisting of fatigue, fever, sweats, and ascites, and the step of repeatedly administering the pharmaceutical composition results in a decrease in the at least one symptom. 
     
     
         9 . A method of stabilizing Castleman's disease in a human patient, the method comprising the step of repeatedly administering to the subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and an anti-IL-1α antibody at least until the progression of the Castleman's disease has been stabilized.