Abstract: This invention provides compounds, compositions and methods for treating cancer, infectious disease, an autoimmune disorder or an inflammatory condition. Therapeutic compounds useful in the methods of this invention are 5?-phosphoramidatyl, 1,5-substituted pyrimidine compounds, derivatives, analogs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Abstract: A method for transducing a pathologic hyperproliferative mammalian cell is provided by this invention. This method requires contacting the cell with a suitable retroviral vector containing a nucleic acid encoding a gene product having a tumor suppressive function. Also provided by this invention is a method for treating a pathology in a subject caused by the absence of, or the presence of a pathologically mutated tumor suppressor gene.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for using novel substituted pyrimidine compounds, derivatives and analogs thereof to treat diseases such as cancer. Examples of compounds and derivatives for use in the methods are (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2?-deoxy-5?-uridyl phenyl L-alaninylphosphoramidate and (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2?-deoxy-5?-uridyl phenyl L-alaninyl monophosphate.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for treating inflammatory or autoimmune diseases by contacting the affected cell or tissue with a therapeutic compound as described herein. Such pathologies include, but are not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythmatosus, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and scleroderma. Therapeutic compounds useful in the methods of this invention are selected from the group consisting of a 1,5-substituted pyrimidine derivative or analog and substituted furano-pyrimidone analog.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods of controlling cell cycle progression by introducing into a cell to be controlled a composition selected from the group consisting of p56RB protein, a fragment of the p56RB protein, and the gene encoding p56RB protein to alter the cell cycle progression while maintaining the viability of the cell. The p56RB protein has been found to have the unexpected and surprising characteristic of being soluble in low concentrations of glycerol, thereby enhancing its value in pharmaceutical applications and the gene encoding p56RB when delivered to the hyperproliferating cell inhibits cellular proliferation.

Abstract: This invention provides methods by which test substances can be screened for their ability to inhibit, enhance or eliminate double minute (DM) or extrachromosomal DNA by micronucleation in cells. This invention also provides a method for inducing maturation or death of a cell having the capacity to generate micronuclei. It also provides a method of treating a disease in a subject, the cells correlated with the disease having DM and extrachromosomal DNA as well as the capacity to generate micronuclei to capture them. Further provided is a method of detecting chromosomal and extrachromosomal DNA in a cell.

Abstract: This invention provides methods by which test substances can be screened for their ability to inhibit, enhance or eliminate double minute (DM) or extrachromosomal DNA by micronucleation in cells. This invention also provides a method for inducing maturation or death of a cell having the capacity to generate micronuclei. It also provides a method of treating a disease in a subject, the cells correlated with the disease having DM and extrachromosomal DNA as well as the capacity to generate micronuclei to capture them. Further provided is a method of detecting chromosomal and extrachromosomal DNA in a cell.

Abstract: This invention provides novel substrate compounds that selectively inhibit the proliferation f path logical cells, for example, pathological cells that endogenously overexpress a target enzyme that confers resistance to biologic and chemotherapeutic agents. The enzyme acts on a substrate compound to 1) convert it to a cellular toxin and/or 2) release a toxic byproduct. In one embodiment, the activity of the target enzyme has been greatly enhanced in a target cell as a result of loss f tum r suppressor function and/or selection resulting from previous exposure to chemotherapy. In another embodiment, the pathological cell contains a target enzyme that is an expression product of an infectious agent in the cell. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a subject by delivering to the subject a prodrug as described herein. The prodrugs f this invention may be used alone or in combination with ther chemotherapeutics or alternative anti-cancer therapies such as radiation.

Abstract: This invention provides novel substrate compounds that selectively inhibit the proliferation of pathological cells, for example, pathological calls that endogenously overexpress a target enzyme that confers resistance to biologic and chemotherapeutic agents. The enzyme acts on a substrate compound to 1) convert it to a cellular toxin and/or 2) release a toxic byproduct. In one embodiment, the activity of the target enzyme has been greatly enhanced in a target cell as a result of loss of tumor suppressor function and/or selection resulting from previous exposure to chemotherapy. In another embodiment, the pathological cell contains a target enzyme that is an expression product of an infectious agent in the cell. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a subject by delivering to the subject a prodrug as described herein. The prodrugs of this invention may be used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutics or alternative anti-cancer therapies such as radiation.

Abstract: This invention provides methods and systems to identify enzymes that act as enzyme catalyzed therapeutic activators and the enzymes identified by these methods. Also provided by this invention are compounds activated by the enzymes as well as compositions containing these compounds.

Abstract: A synthetic prototoxophore, which is a relatively non-toxic compound that includes a toxin moiety and a substrate domain for a viral enzyme, is provided. Upon binding of a viral enzyme to the substrate domain, the catalytic activity of the viral enzyme converts the prototoxophore to a toxophore, which is toxic to a cell. Thus, a toxophore also is provided, as is a pharmaceutical composition containing a prototoxophore, and kits containing a prototoxophore. Also provided are methods of using a prototoxophore to reduce or inhibit viral infectivity, and methods of using a prototoxophore to ameliorate the severity of a viral infection in an individual.

Abstract: This invention provides compounds, compositions and methods for treating cancer, infectious disease, an autoimmune disorder or an inflammatory condition.

Abstract: A method for transducing a pathologic hyperproliferative mammalian cell is provided by this invention. This method requires contacting the cell with a suitable retroviral vector containing a nucleic acid encoding a gene product having a tumor suppressive function. Also provided by this invention is a method for treating a pathology in a subject caused by the absence of, or the presence of a pathologically mutated tumor suppressor gene.

Abstract: Tumor necrosis factors, alone or together with cytokines such as IL-1 or IFN-&ggr;, are capable of serving as non-toxic vaccine adjuvants.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting growth of tumor cells which overexpress a growth factor receptor or growth factor by treatment of the cells with antibodies which inhibit the growth factor receptor function, is disclosed. A method of treating tumor cells with antibodies which inhibit growth factor receptor function, and with cytotoxic factor(s) such as tumor necrosis factor, is also disclosed. By inhibiting growth factor receptor functions tumor cells are rendered more susceptible to cytotoxic factors.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for identifying potential therapeutic agents by contacting a target cell with a candidate therapeutic agent which is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme in the cell which is enhanced in its expression as a result of selection by biologic or chemotherapy. This invention also provides methods and examples of molecules for selectively killing a pathological cell by contacting the cell with a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme. The prodrug is subsequently converted to a cellular toxin. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a pathology characterized by pathological, hyperproliferative cells in a subject by administering to the subject a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, overexpressed, intracellular enzyme, and converted by the enzyme to a cellular toxin in the hyperproliferative cell.

Abstract: This invention provides methods for treating inflammatory or autoimmune diseases by contacting the affected cell or tissue with a therapeutic compound as described herein. Such pathologies include, but are not limited to rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythmatosus, psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and scleroderma. Therapeutic compounds useful in the methods of this invention are selected from the group consisting of a 1,5-substituted pyrimidine derivative or analog and substituted furano-pyrimidone analog.

Abstract: This invention provides compositions containing an effective amount of a novel substrate compound that selectively inhibit the proliferation of hyperproliferative cells, for example, pathological cells that endogenously overexpress a target enzyme that confers resistance to biologic and chemotherapeutic agents and an effective amount of a nucleoside transport antagonistic agents. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a subject by delivering to the subject the composition as described herein. The compositions of this invention may be used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutics or alternative anti-cancer therapies such as radiation.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting growth of tumor cells which overexpress a growth factor receptor or growth factor by treatment of the cells with antibodies which inhibit the growth factor receptor function, is disclosed. A method of treating tumor cells with antibodies which inhibit growth factor receptor function, and with cytotoxic factor(s) such as tumor necrosis factor, is also disclosed. By inhibiting growth factor receptor functions tumor cells are rendered more susceptible to cytotoxic factors.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for identifying potential therapeutic agents by contacting a target cell with a candidate therapeutic agent which is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme in the cell which is enhanced in its expression as a result of selection by biologic or chemotherapy. This invention also provides methods and examples of molecules for selectively killing a pathological cell by contacting the cell with a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, intracellular enzyme. The prodrug is subsequently converted to a cellular toxin. Further provided by this invention is a method for treating a pathology characterized by pathological, hyperproliferative cells in a subject by administering to the subject a prodrug that is a selective substrate for an endogenous, overexpressed, intracellular enzyme, and converted by the enzyme to a cellular toxin in the hyperproliferative cell.