Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated with aberrant silencing of gene expression such as cancer by reestablishing the gene expression through inhibition of DNA hypomethylation and histone deacetylase. The method comprises: administering to a patient suffering from the disease a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA methylation inhibitor such as a cysteine analog such as decitabine, in combination with an effective amount of histone deacetylase inhibitor such as hydroxamic acid, cyclic peptide, benzamide, butyrate, and depudecin.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for treatment of conditions related to the overexpression of EZH2, such as late stage prostate cancer, using a DNA methylation inhibitor and/or a histone deacetylase inhibitor, optionally in combination with an EZH2 antagonist and/or an antineoplastic agent, to specifically target diseases associated with EZH2 over-expression. Further provided are reagents and kits for treatment of EZH2 overexpression.

Abstract: Compositions of matter comprising a substituted cyclodextrin and cytotoxic compound, especially cytotoxic drugs such as antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-neoplastic, drugs are claimed. The compositions cause significantly less ulceration compared to the same formulation of cytotoxic compound without cyclodextrin compound when extravasated. The compositions may also cause less vascular irritation compared to the same formulation of cytotoxic compound without cyclodextrin when administered intravenously without extravasation. Compositions of matter comprising watersoluble cytotoxic agents, especially anticancer drugs and anti-ulceration effective or anti-irritation effective amounts of cyclodextrin compounds are also claimed. Methods for reducing the likelihood of ulceration and or irritation when administering the compositions according to the invention are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Methods are provided for using paclitaxel for treating diseases associated with abnormal cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In particular, methods are provided for administration of paclitaxel formulated with vitamin E derivatives such as d-&agr;-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate to a cancer patient. By administering to a patient paclitaxel in a vehicle containing a solubilizer other than Cremophor, acute hypersensitivity caused by Cremophor can be avoided and therapeutic index of paclitaxel may also be increased through potentiation of anti-neoplastic effects by the vitamin E derivatives.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of treating an HIV-infected host including administering to the host a therapeutic agent that is cytotoxic or cytostatic with respect to CD4+ T cells, but has reduced cytotoxic or cytostatic activity with respect to T lymphocyte stem cells, in a CD4+ T cell cytotoxic or cytostatic effective amount. Also disclosed is a method of treating an HIV-infected host including administering highly active antiretroviral therapy; and coadministering to the host a therapeutic agent that is cytotoxic or cytostatic with respect to CD4+ T cells, but has reduced cytotoxic or cytostatic activity with respect to T lymphocyte stem cells, in a CD4+ T cell cytotoxic or cytostatic effective amount.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising: taking polyoxyethylated castor oil which if diluted 1:10 in water has a pH greater than 5 and aging the polyoxyethylated castor oil by exposing the polyoxyethylated castor oil to a gas comprising oxygen for a period of time, the exposure to the gas over the period of time causing an acidity of the polyoxyethylated castor oil to increase; and forming a pharmaceutical composition comprising the aged polyoxyethylated castor oil and a pharmaceutically active agent such as paclitaxel; wherein at least 80% of the potency of the pharmaceutically active agent is retained by the pharmaceutical composition after the pharmaceutical composition is stored for at least 7 days at 40° C.

Abstract: Oral formulations of pharmaceuticals are provided with enhanced bioavailability by targeting specific regions of the gastrointestinal tract. Particularly, water soluble and acid-labile drugs such as cytidine analogs (e.g., decitabine) and 2′-deoxyadenosine analogs (e.g., pentostatin) are formulated with pH-sensitive polymers so that these drugs are preferably absorbed in the upper regions of the small intestine, such as the jejunum. In addition, drugs with poor oral bioavailability such as camptothecin compounds (e.g., 9-nitro-camptothecin) can also be formulated using similar strategies in order to significantly improve their oral bioavailability. These formulations can be used to treat a wide variety of diseases or conditions, such hematological disorders, benign tumors, cancer, restenosis, inflammatory diseases, and autoimmune diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for treating a patient with an autoimmune disease by administering an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (ADA) such as pentostatin and its analogs and derivatives.

Abstract: A polymorphic form of 9-nitrocamptothecin is provided, the polymorph being characterizable as having an IR spectrum with an absorption centered between 3625 cm−1 and 3675 cm−1 and containing more than a trace of water.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating HIV infection using a combination therapy which includes a compound selected from the group consisting of 20(S)-camptothecin, analog of 20(S)-camptothecin, derivative of 20(S)-camptothecin, precursor of 20(S)-camptothecin and metabolite of 20(S)-camptothecin, in combination with a cocktail of antiretroviral drugs such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, non-nucleoside HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors, protease inhibitors, fusion inhibitors and integrase inhibitors. The method comprises administering highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART); and co-administering to the HIV-infected host therapeutically effective amount of a compound selected from the group consisting of 20(S)-camptothecin, analog of 20(S)-camptothecin, derivative of 20(S)-camptothecin, precursor of 20(S)-camptothecin and metabolite of 20(S)-camptothecin.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated with abnormal cell proliferation such as cancer by restoring inherent tumor-suppressing functions of neoplastic cells through DNA hypomethylation. The method comprises: delivering to a patient suffering from cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA methylation inhibitor such as decitabine, in combination with an effective amount of an anti-neoplastic agent whose activity as an anti-neoplastic agent in vivo is adversely affected by aberrant DNA methylation. The anti-neoplastic agent is preferably a biologic agent such as an interleukin.

Abstract: A method is provided for treating a patient having a disease associated with undesirable or uncontrolled cell proliferation, the method comprising: administering to the patient an anthracycline for a period of time during which a 20(S)-camptothecin is not present in a pharmacologically active form in patient's blood; and administering a 20(S)-camptothecin to the patient.

Abstract: A method is provided for preparing a pharmaceutical composition comprising: taking polyoxyethylated castor oil which if diluted 1:10 in water has a pH greater than 5 and aging the polyoxyethylated castor oil by exposing the polyoxyethylated castor oil to a gas comprising oxygen for a period of time, the exposure to the gas over the period of time causing an acidity of the polyoxyethylated castor oil to increase; and forming a pharmaceutical composition comprising the aged polyoxyethylated castor oil and a pharmaceutically active agent such as paclitaxel; wherein at least 80% of the potency of the pharmaceutically active agent is retained by the pharmaceutical composition after the pharmaceutical composition is stored for at least 7 days at 40° C.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated with abnormal cell proliferation such as cancer by storing inherent tumor-suppressing functions of neoplastic cells through DNA hypomethylation. The method comprises: delivering to a patient suffering from cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA methylation inhibitor such as decitabine, in combination with an effective amount of an anti-neoplastic agent whose activity as an anti-neoplastic agent in vivo is adversely affected by aberrant DNA methylation. The anti-neoplastic agent can be an alkylating agent, an antibiotic agent, an antimetabolic agent, a retinoid, a hormonal agent, a plant-derived agent, an anti-angiogenesis agent and a biologic agent such as monoclonal antibody and interferon.

Abstract: Compositions of matter comprising a substituted cyclodextrin and cytotoxic compound, especially cytotoxic drugs such as antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-neoplastic, drugs are claimed. The compositions cause significantly less ulceration compared to the same formulation of cytotoxic compound without cyclodextrin compound when extravasated. The compositions may also cause less vascular irritation compared to the same formulation of cytotoxic compound without cyclodextrin when administered intravenously without extravasation. Compositions of matter comprising watersoluble cytotoxic agents, especially anticancer drugs and anti-ulceration effective or anti-irritatioin effective amounts of cyclodextrin compounds are also claimed. Methods for reducing the likelihood of ulceration and or irritation when administering the compositions according to the invention are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A method for treating a patient having a disease associated with undesirable or uncontrolled cell proliferation such as cancer and restenosis is provided. The method comprises: delivering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of 9-nitro-20(S)-camptothecin in combination with an effective amount of an antibiotic agent such as bleomycin.

Abstract: Methods are provided for using paclitaxel for treating diseases associated with abnormal cell proliferation and angiogenesis. In particular, methods are provided for administration of paclitaxel formulated with vitamin E derivatives such as d-&agr;-tocopherol polyethylene glycol succinate to a cancer patient. By administering to a patient paclitaxel in a vehicle containing a solubilizer other than Cremophor, acute hypersensitivity caused by Cremophor can be avoided and therapeutic index of paclitaxel may also be increased through potentiation of anti-neoplastic effects by the vitamin E derivatives.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated with abnormal cell proliferation such as cancer by storing inherent tumor-suppressing functions of neoplastic cells through DNA hypomethylation. The method comprises: delivering to a patient suffering from cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA methylation inhibitor such as decitabine, in combination with an effective amount of an anti-neoplastic agent whose activity as an anti-neoplastic agent in vivo is adversely affected by aberrant DNA methylation. The anti-neoplastic agent can be an alkylating agent, an antibiotic agent, an antimetabolic agent, a retinoid, a hormonal agent, a plant-derived agent, an anti-angiogenesis agent and a biologic agent such as monoclonal antibody and interferon.

Abstract: Compositions of matter comprising a substituted cyclodextrin and cytotoxic compound, especially cytotoxic drugs such as antibiotic, anti-fungal and anti-neoplastic, drugs are claimed. The compositions cause significantly less ulceration compared to the same formulation of cytotoxic compound without cyclodextrin compound when extravasated. The compositions may also cause less vascular irritation compared to the same formulation of cytotoxic compound without cyclodextrin when administered intravenously without extravasation. Compositions of matter comprising watersoluble cytotoxic agents, especially anticancer drugs and anti-ulceration effective or anti-irritatioin effective amounts of cyclodextrin compounds are also claimed. Methods for reducing the likelihood of ulceration and or irritation when administering the compositions according to the invention are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A pharmaceutical composition is provided which comprises an aqueous suspension of solid particles, the solid particles comprising a camptothecin, the solid particles having mean diameters between about 0.05 um and 10 um, the particles coated with a 0.3 nm to 3.0 um thick layer of a membrane-forming amphipathic lipid. The pharmaceutical composition is particularly well suited for delivering camptothecins, particularly 9-nitro-camptothecin intravenously.