Abstract: There is provided a composition comprising microspheres which comprise a water-insoluble, water-swellable polymer and associated with the polymer, in releasable form, a chemotherapeutic agent, for use in the treatment of a pancreatic tumour or cyst, wherein the microspheres, when equilibrated in water at 37° C., comprise at least 40 wt % water based on weight of polymer plus water, wherein the polymer is anionically charged at pH7 and the chemotherapeutic agent is cationically charged and electrostatically associated with the polymer. Also provided are methods of treating pancreatic tumours or cysts using this composition.

Abstract: A composition comprising microspheres of a polymer matrix, having two different pharmaceutical actives having complementary, usually synergistic, activity in killing cells. The compositions have particular utility for treating tumours. Useful combinations are doxorubicin with rapamycin, irinotecan with ibuprofen, ibuprofen with doxorubicin and irinotecan with doxorubicin. The polymer matrix is preferably a crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol. The drugs may be included in the same microsphere, or microspheres each with an individual pharmaceutical agent may be mixed together. The microspheres are preferably used in chemoembolisation of tumours.