Abstract: A negatively charged glycosaminoglycan is provided for use as a medicament for the treatment of cancer. A combined administration of a negatively charged glycosaminoglycan is provided in which the glycosaminoglycan is characterised by the absence of the terminal pentasaccharide of Heparin, and an inhibitor of the MAPK/ERK pathway. A combined administration of a glycosaminoglycan and a MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitor is provided as a medicament for the treatment of cancer types that exhibit a resistance towards a single MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitor treatment.

Abstract: A negatively charged glycosaminoglycan is provided for use as a medicament for the treatment of cancer A combined administration of a negatively charged glycosaminoglycan is provided in which the glycosaminoglycan is characterised by the absence of the terminal pentasaccharide of Heparin, and an inhibitor of the MAPK/ERK pathway. A combined administration of a glycosaminoglycan and a MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitor is provided as a medicament for the treatment of cancer types that exhibit a resistance towards a single MAPK/ERK pathway inhibitor treatment.

Abstract: The growth and/or proliferation of mammalian cells are modulated by modulating the physical interaction between platelets (thrombocytes) and the surface of the cells. Sulfated polysaccharides, preferably glycosaminoglycans, can be used as a medicament for the inhibition of the physical interaction between the cell surface and platelets in the treatment of a medical disorder associated with unwanted cell growth and/or proliferation. The physical interaction between platelets (thrombocytes) and the surface of the cells can be modulated in vitro in order to modulate cell proliferation. Inhibition of the interaction between the cell surface and platelets can inhibit cell growth, and enhancement of the interaction between platelets and the surface of the cell can enhance cell growth.

Abstract: The growth and/or proliferation of mammalian cells are modulated by modulating the physical interaction between platelets (thrombocytes) and the surface of the cells. Sulfated polysaccharides, preferably glycosaminoglycans, can be used as a medicament for the inhibition of the physical interaction between the cell surface and platelets in the treatment of a medical disorder associated with unwanted cell growth and/or proliferation. The physical interaction between platelets (thrombocytes) and the surface of the cells can be modulated in vitro in order to modulate cell proliferation. Inhibition of the interaction between the cell surface and platelets can inhibit cell growth, and enhancement of the interaction between platelets and the surface of the cell can enhance cell growth.

Abstract: An interleukin-1 preparation is obtained as a supernatant by cell culturing human peripheral mononuclear blood cells.

Abstract: A cell mediated immune response system glycoprotein having a molecular weight of about 90,000 and having at least one sialic acid moiety as a biologically active site is disclosed. The glycoprotein is specifically bound by wheat germ agglutinin and also by the hydrophobically binding ligand Blue A (Cibacron Blue F3G-A) but does not bind to lysine. The glycoprotein is a necessary cofactor with Interleukin-1 in the biosynthesis of T-cell growth factor (I1-2). A process for producing a serum-free and mitogen-free I1-2 in vitro by adding the glycoprotein to a serum-free and mitogen-free interleukin-1 preparation is described. The method for producing the serum-free and mitogen-free Interleukin-1 is also described. A chemically defined T-cell growth culture medium containing the new glycoprotein as the only protein substance is used in the above process and also provides a means for studying regulation of T-cell lymphocyte growth.

Abstract: A cell mediated immune response system glycoprotein having a molecular weight of about 90,000 and having at least one sialic acid moiety as a biologically active site is disclosed. The glycoprotein is specifically bound by wheat germ agglutinin and also by the hydrophobically binding ligand Blue A (Cibacron Blue F3G-A) but does not bind to lysine. The glycoprotein is a necessary cofactor with Interleukin-1 in the biosynthesis of T-cell growth factor (I1-2). A process for producing a serum-free and mitogen-free I1-2 in vitro by adding the glycoprotein to a serum-free- and mitogen-free Interleukin-1 preparation is described. The method for producing the serum-free and mitogen-free Interleukin-1 is also described. A chemically defined T-cell growth culture medium containing the new glycoprotein as the only protein substance is used in the above process and also provides a means for studying regulation of T-cell lymphocyte growth.

Abstract: A cell mediated immune response system glycoprotein having a molecular weight of about 90,000 and having at least one sialic acid moiety as a biologically active site is disclosed. The glycoprotein is specifically bound by wheat germ agglutinin and also by the hydrophobically binding ligand Blue A (Cibacron Blue F3G-A) but does not bind to lysine. The glycoprotein is a necessary cofactor with Interleukin-1 in the biosynthesis of T-cell growth factor (I1-2). A process for producing a serum-free and mitogen-free I1-2 in vitro by adding the glycoprotein to a serum-free- and mitogen-free Interleukin-1 preparation is described. The method for producing the serum-free and mitogen-free Interleukin-1 is also described. A chemically defined T-cell growth culture medium containing the new glycoprotein as the only protein substance is used in the above process and also provides a means for studying regulation of T-cell lymphocyte growth.

Abstract: A serum-free and mitogen-free T-cell growth factor which is effective in stimulating natural killer cell function in tumor patients is provided. A method of producing the growth factor from human, bovine or porcine spleen or blood is described.

Abstract: An improved in vitro cell culture process for producing in high yield and purity a serum-free and mitogen-free interleukin-2-containing conditioned supernatant. The incubation steps during stimulation and conditioning of the interleukin-2 producing cells is carried out with a rapidly rotating roller bottle culture system. Yields of interleukin-2 are on the order of 10-fold and higher than obtained by similar cultivations carried out in flat dishes or tubes or in a roller bottle culture system rotated at conventional speeds. Improvement in yields in both the static and roller culture systems are also achieved by incubating the IL-2 producing cells under high oxygen concentrations, for example atmospheres of at least 70% O.sub.2 and at least 5% CO.sub.2. In addition to using peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBL) as the source of leukocytes containing the IL-2 producer cells, it is also possible to use buffy coat cells which are readily available as a waste by-product from blood banks.

Abstract: A cell mediated immune response system glycoprotein having a molecular weight of about 90,000 and having at least one sialic acid moiety as a biologically active site is disclosed. The glycoprotein is specifically bound by wheat germ agglutinin and also by the hydrophobically binding ligant Blue A (Cibacron Blue F3G-A) but does not bind to lysine. The glycoprotein is a necessary cofactor with Interleukin-1 in the biosynthesis of T-cell growth factor (I1-2). A process for producing a serum-free and mitogen-free I1-2 in vitro by adding the glycoprotein to a serum-free- and mitogen-free Interleukin-1 preparation is described. The method for producing the serum-free and mitogen-free Interleukin-1 is also described. A chemically defined T-cell growth culture medium containing the new glycoprotein as the only protein substance is used in the above process and also provides a means for studying regulation of T-cell lymphocyte growth.

Abstract: Suppression of the immunological rejection mechanism of a host which has received an organ transplant in achieved by the daily administration to the host of a ganglioside agent which effectively blocks the soluble immunological cell mediator interleukin 2 and /or a blastogenic factor. By binding to the mediator for T cell blast formation the mediator is prevented from binding to the asialo GM1 receptor on the surface of the T effector cell. Blastogenesis does not occur and the cell mediated rejection of the graft is prevented.