Abstract: Compounds that are capable of inhibiting the activity of one or more protein kinases are provided. The compounds are short, predominantly basic peptidic compounds comprising between about 5 and about 20 amino acids, and can optionally comprise an ATP mimetic moiety. The protein kinase inhibiting compounds can be used to inhibit the activity of one or more protein kinases in vitro or in vivo. Also provided are methods of inhibiting a protein kinase in a subject by administration of an effective amount of a protein kinase inhibiting compound and the use of the protein kinase inhibiting compounds, alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, in the treatment of protein kinase mediated diseases and disorders.

Abstract: Compounds that are capable of inhibiting the activity of one or more protein kinases are provided. The compounds are short, predominantly basic peptidic compounds comprising between about 5 and about 20 amino acids, and can optionally comprise an ATP mimetic moiety. The protein kinase inhibiting compounds can be used to inhibit the activity of one or more protein kinases in vitro or in vivo. Also provided are methods of inhibiting a protein kinase in a subject by administration of an effective amount of a protein kinase inhibiting compound and the use of the protein kinase inhibiting compounds, alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, in the treatment of protein kinase mediated diseases and disorders.

Abstract: Inhibitors of mammalian protein kinase C isoforms that comprise an inhibitor moiety, which is capable of inhibiting protein kinase activity, operatively associated with a peptide recognition element (PRE), which has an affinity for one or more PKC isoforms are provided. The targeted inhibitory molecules (TIMs) of the present invention are capable of inhibiting one or more PKC isoforms. The TIMs can be designed to target a specific PKC isoform by selection of a PRE component that is shown to preferentially target that PKC isoform. The TIMs are useful as therapeutic agents in the treatment of PKC-related diseases and disorders, such as cancer, psoriasis, angiogenesis, restenosis, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, kidney disorders, inflammatory disorders and autoimmune disorders.

Abstract: Peptides having a sequence of general formula (I), or the retro form thereof, and having an affinity for one or more mammalian protein kinase C-alpha isoforms are provided: X—[(HY—HB)n-linker]m-(HB—HY)2—HB—(HY)m-Z (I) wherein: HY represents a block of 1 to 4 hydrophobic amino acid residues selected from the group of: Ala, Gly, He, Leu, Phe and Val; HB represents a block of 1 to 4 amino acid residues capable of forming hydrogen bonds selected from the group of: Arg, Asn, Asp, Glu, Gln, Lys and Ser; “linker” represents 1 to 4 Gly residues; n is 1, 2 or 3; m is 0 or 1; X represents the N-terminus of the peptide or a modified version thereof, and Z represents the C-terminus of the peptide or a modified version thereof. The peptides can be used as probes, screening agents, targeting agents, purification agents and diagnostic agents.

Abstract: Compounds that are capable of inhibiting the activity of one or more protein kinases are provided. The compounds are short, predominantly basic peptidic compounds comprising between about 5 and about 20 amino acids, and can optionally comprise an ATP mimetic moiety. The protein kinase inhibiting compounds can be used to inhibit the activity of one or more protein kinases in vitro or in vivo. Also provided are methods of inhibiting a protein kinase in a subject by administration of an effective amount of a protein kinase inhibiting compound and the use of the protein kinase inhibiting compounds, alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, in the treatment of protein kinase mediated diseases and disorders.

Abstract: This invention features fractionated oxidized carotenoid or retinoid mixtures, and individual components thereof, which are useful as cell-differentiation-inducing, anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and anti-tumor agents. The mixtures and compounds of the invention can be used alone or in combination with other anticancer agents for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: This invention features fractionated oxidized carotenoid or retinoid mixtures, and individual components thereof, which are useful as cell-differentiation-inducing, anti-proliferative, anti-metastatic and anti-tumor agents. The mixtures and compounds of the invention can be used alone or in combination with other anticancer agents for the treatment of cancer.

Abstract: .beta.-Carotene and canthaxanthin, as representative carotenoids, and to a lesser extent, retinoic acid, a representative retinoid, undergo extensive oxidation to yield substances, insofar as oxidized .beta.-carotene is a model, which have properties useful as non-toxic agents active against cell proliferation, tumors, and tumorigenic viruses, and useful as promoters of cell differentiation. It is evident from chemical analysis of the highly oxidized .beta.-carotene product mixture that none of the various forms of vitamin A are present or are present only in minor amounts. Furthermore, the biological activities of oxidized canthaxanthin and retinoic acid, which cannot form, vitamin A, indicate the presence of active substances that are different from vitamin A. Although the anti-proliferative and differentiation promotion activities of oxidized .beta.-carotene resemble those of vitamin A itself, generally the effects are more powerful for oxidized .beta.-carotene in a wide variety of circumstances.