Tissue targeted antigenic activation of the immune response to treat cancers

摘要

The invention provides in part methods for treating cancers of a specific organ or tissue by administering a composition that is antigenically specific for one or more microbes that are pathogenic in the specific organ or tissue in which the cancer is situated. The compositions may for example include killed or attenuated microbial pathogens, such as whole killed bacterial cells, and may be administered at sites distant from the cancer, for example the skin. In selected embodiments, the invention provides methods for treating a cancer situated in the colon, using formulations of E. coli cells. The administration of the immunogenic compositions may be repeated relatively frequently over a relatively long period of time. In embodiments for intradermal or subcutaneous injection, dosages may be adjusted so that injections reproduce a consistent, visible, inflammatory immune reaction at the site of administration.

主权项

1. A method for treating a human patient for a cancer situated in the colon or in colonic tissue, the method comprising:
administering to the patient at an administration site distant from site of the cancer a medicament comprising an effective amount of an antigenic composition comprising whole cells of a microbial pathogen that is an Escherichia coli (E. coli), wherein microbial antigenic determinants of the whole cells of E. coli are the sole active agents or the sole antigens for treating the cancer, and wherein the human patient has been diagnosed as having a cancer situated in the colon or in colonic tissue, wherein the method comprises administering the medicament intradermally or subcutaneously and the cells are attenuated or killed.