Abstract: Provided are methods for enhancing anti-tumor and/or anti-cancer immunotherapies. In some embodiments, the methods include administering to a subject in need thereof a composition that includes a conjugate that includes a gastrin immunogen conjugated to an immunogenic carrier, optionally conjugated via a linker, in an amount and via a route sufficient to enhance entry into the tumor and/or cancer of an anti-tumor T cell, whereby an anti- and/or anti-cancer tumor immunotherapy is enhanced. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions that have the conjugates for use in treating tumors and cancers, methods for treating tumors and/or cancers, and methods for sensitizing solid tumors and/or cancers in subjects to chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapies.

Abstract: A construct, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising: (a) a polyethylene glycol-block-poly(L-lysine) polymer moiety, wherein the polyethylene glycol is thiol-functionalized; (b) a cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor ligand coupled to the polyethylene glycol of the polymer moiety; and (c) a siRNA complexed with the poly(L-lysine) of the polymer moiety, wherein the construct is neutralized.

Abstract: Provided are methods for sensitizing gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers in subjects to inducers of humoral and cellular immune responses. In some embodiments, the methods relate to administering compositions that have anti-gastrin antibodies, gastrin peptides, and/or nucleic acids that inhibit expression of gastrin gene products to subjects. Also provided are methods for preventing, reducing, and/or eliminating the formation of fibroses associated with tumors and/or cancers, and methods for treating gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers that include administering to subjects in need thereof a first agent that provides and/or induces an anti-gastrin humoral or cellular immune response in the subject and a second agent that includes one or more stimulators of cellular immune responses against the tumors and/or cancers.

Abstract: Provided are methods for sensitizing gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers in subjects to inducers of humoral and cellular immune responses. In some embodiments, the methods relate to administering compositions that have anti-gastrin antibodies, gastrin peptides, and/or nucleic acids that inhibit expression of gastrin gene products to subjects. Also provided are methods for preventing, reducing, and/or eliminating the formation of fibroses associated with tumors and/or cancers, and methods for treating gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers that include administering to subjects in need thereof a first agent that provides and/or induces an anti-gastrin humoral or cellular immune response in the subject and a second agent that includes one or more stimulators of cellular immune responses against the tumors and/or cancers.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating a cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor-expressing cancerous tumor in a subject. The methods comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a CCK receptor inhibitor and an effective amount of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, wherein the CCK receptor inhibitor inhibits one or more CCK receptors selected from the group consisting of a CCK-A receptor, a CCK-B receptor and a CCK-C receptor, and wherein the immune checkpoint inhibitor is a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) inhibitor or a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor.

Abstract: A construct, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising: (a) a polyethylene glycol-block-poly(L-lysine) polymer moiety, wherein the polyethylene glycol is thiol-functionalized; (b) a cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor ligand coupled to the polyethylene glycol of the polymer moiety; and (c) a siRNA complexed with the poly(L-lysine) of the polymer moiety, wherein the construct is neutralized.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating a cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor-expressing cancerous tumor in a subject. The methods comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a CCK receptor inhibitor and an effective amount of an immune checkpoint inhibitor, wherein the CCK receptor inhibitor inhibits one or more CCK receptors selected from the group consisting of a CCK-A receptor, a CCK-B receptor and a CCK-C receptor, and wherein the immune checkpoint inhibitor is a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) inhibitor or a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor.

Abstract: A construct, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising: (a) a polyethylene glycol-block-poly(L-lysine) polymer moiety, wherein the polyethylene glycol is thiol-functionalized; (b) a cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor ligand coupled to the polyethylene glycol of the polymer moiety; and (c) a siRNA complexed with the poly(L-lysine) of the polymer moiety, wherein the construct is neutralized.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in a subject, comprising administering to a subject having NASH an effective amount of a CCK receptor inhibitor.

Abstract: Method of producing nanoparticle of drug and imaging agents are provided. The phosphorylated encapsulated drugs and imaging agents could be encapsulated at therapeutic levels, were encapsulated at higher amounts. The CPSNPs were more effective in treating cancer, in reducing cancer proliferation, arresting cancer cell growth than when not in the form of a CPSNP, and showed efficacious treatment of cancer cells at far lower dosage than free molecules. Calcium phosphosilicate and phosphate nanoparticles are disclosed and their method of use. The methods and nanoparticles are particularly efficacious where CPSNPs were used to encapsulate 5-FU metabolites such as FdUMP and gemcitabine metabolites.

Abstract: Provided are methods for preventing initiation and/or progression of gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers in subjects. In some embodiments, the methods relate to administering compositions that gastrin immunogens to subjects. Also provided are methods for inhibiting development of gastrin-associated precancerous lesions, methods for preventing formation of fibrosis associated with a tumor and/or a cancer, uses of compositions that include a gastrin immunogen to prevent initiation and/or development of a gastrin-associated tumor or cancer and/or for preparing medicaments therefor, and compositions for use in preventing initiation and/or development of gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers and/or precancerous lesions thereof.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for treating neoplasias in an animal or human comprised of a carrier and therapeutically effective amounts of at least one chemotherapeutic agent along with the biotherapeutic endogenous pentapeptide Met-enkephalin, referred to as opioid growth factor. Also provided are methods of treating neoplasias in an animal or human in need of such treatment, comprising the administration to the animal or human therapeutically effective amounts of a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a carrier and therapeutically effective amounts of at least one neoplasia-treating agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent or radiation, along with opioid growth factor.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for treating a cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor-expressing cancerous tumor in a subject. Also provided are methods for increasing sensitivity of a (CCK) receptor-expressing cancerous tumor in a subject to immunotherapy.

Abstract: Provided are methods for sensitizing gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers in subjects to inducers of humoral and cellular immune responses. In some embodiments, the methods relate to administering compositions that have anti-gastrin antibodies, gastrin peptides, and/or nucleic acids that inhibit expression of gastrin gene products to subjects. Also provided are methods for preventing, reducing, and/or eliminating the formation of fibroses associated with tumors and/or cancers, and methods for treating gastrin-associated tumors and/or cancers that include administering to subjects in need thereof a first agent that provides and/or induces an anti-gastrin humoral or cellular immune response in the subject and a second agent that includes one or more stimulators of cellular immune responses against the tumors and/or cancers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pharmaceutical compositions for treating neoplasias in an animal or human comprised of a carrier and therapeutically effective amounts of at least one chemotherapeutic agent along with the biotherapeutic endogenous pentapeptide Met-enkephalin, referred to as opioid growth factor. Also provided are methods of treating neoplasias in an animal or human in need of such treatment, comprising the administration to the animal or human therapeutically effective amounts of a pharmaceutical composition comprised of a carrier and therapeutically effective amounts of at least one neoplasia-treating agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent or radiation, along with opioid growth factor.

Abstract: Method of producing nanoparticle of drug and imaging agents are provided. The phosphorylated encapsulated drugs and imaging agents could be encapsulated at therapeutic levels, were encapsulated at higher amounts. The CPSNPs were more effective in treating cancer, in reducing cancer proliferation, arresting cancer cell growth than when not in the form of a CPSNP, and showed efficacious treatment of cancer cells at far lower dosage than free molecules. Calcium phosphosilicate and phosphate nanoparticles are disclosed and their method of use. The methods and nanoparticles are particularly efficacious where CPSNPs were used to encapsulate 5-FU metabolites such as FdUMP and gemcitabine metabolites.

Abstract: A construct, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, comprising: (a) a polyethylene glycol-block-poly(L-lysine) polymer moiety, wherein the polyethylene glycol is thiol-functionalized; (b) a cholecystokinin-B (CCK-B) receptor ligand coupled to the polyethylene glycol of the polymer moiety; and (c) a siRNA complexed with the poly(L-lysine) of the polymer moiety, wherein the construct is neutralized.

Abstract: Non-aggregating resorbable calcium phosphosilicate nanoparticles (CPNPs) are bioconjugated to targeting molecules that are specific for particular cells. The CPNPs are stable particles at normal physiological pH. Chemotherapy and imaging agents may be integrally formed with the CPNPs so that they are compartmentalized within the CPNPs. In this manner, the agents are protected from interaction with the environment at normal physiological pH. However, once the CPNPs have been taken up, at intracellular pH, the CPNPs dissolve releasing the agent. Thus, chemotherapeutic or imaging agents are delivered to specific cells and permit the treatment and/or imaging of those cells. Use of the bioconjugated CPNPs both limits the amount of systemic exposure to the agent and delivers a higher concentration of the agent to the cell. The methods and principals of bioconjugating CPNPs are taught by examples of bioconjugation of targeting molecules for breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and leukemia.

Abstract: Method of producing nanoparticle of drug and imaging agents are provided. The phosphorylated encapsulated drugs and imaging agents could be encapsulated at therapeutic levels, were encapsulated at higher amounts. The CPSNPs were more effective in treating cancer, in reducing cancer proliferation, arresting cancer cell growth than when not in the form of a CPSNP, and showed efficacious treatment of cancer cells at far lower dosage than free molecules. Calcium phosphosilicate and phosphate nanoparticles are disclosed and their method of use. The methods and nanoparticles are particularly efficacious where CPSNPs were used to encapsulate 5-FU metabolites such as FdUMP and gemcitabine metabolites.

Abstract: Human pancreatic cancer cells possess a distinct plasma membrane CCK receptor variant that can be differentiated from the classic CCK-B receptor with selective monoclonal antibodies. Use of this receptor may be helpful in early detection or treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer.