Treatment of Cancer

摘要

This invention provides medicines and technology for use in treating cancer. The approach is to administer a hypoxia activated prodrug, followed by administration of another chemotherapeutic agent that is not a hypoxia activated prodrug. The median survival in pancreatic cancer patients can be extended by several months using such medicines and technology. This invention also provides methodology to assist the clinician in identifying subjects who will benefit most from the therapy. Drug combinations are provided to help the clinician manage side effects that may occur in the course of treatment.

主权项

1. A method of selectively treating cancer in a subject, comprising:
(a) determining whether the subject has one or more of the following characteristics:
(i) the subject is age of 65 or higher;(ii) the subject is restricted in physically strenuous activity as a result of the cancer;(iii) the subject has metastatic cancer;(iv) the cancer was first detected in the subject at least one month previously;(v) the cancer has metastasized to the liver in the subject;(vi) the subject has not been treated with radiotherapy for the cancer;(vii) the subject has a circulating albumin level below 3.5 g/dL: and(viii) the subject has a hemoglobin level below 12 g/dL; (b) identifying the subject as eligible for treatment of their cancer with said prodrug and chemotherapeutic agent if they are determined to have at least one of the listed characteristics in step (a), and if so, (c) administering to the subject a combination of a hypoxia activated prodrug according to Formula Iin combination with a chemotherapeutic agent that is not a hypoxia activated prodrug.