A METHOD FOR TREATING KAPOSI'S SARCOMA AND BLOCKING OR INHIBITING VASCULAR PERMEABILITY

摘要

The present invention is directed to a method for arresting or inhibiting the growth of cells in Kaposi's Sarcoma lesions and a method for arresting or inhibiting the growth of the Kaposi's Sarcoma lesions, said methods comprising contacting the cells in the lesions with an effective amount of SP-PG, a naturally occuring sulfated polysaccharide-peptidoglycan produced by a specific species of the bacterium Arthrobacter, AT-25. The invention is also directed to blocking or inhibiting the activity of cellular vascular permeability factor(s), which comprises contacting vascular cells with an effective amount of SP-PG. In one embodiment, there is provided a method for blocking or inhibiting increased vascular permeability (and resulting edema) in diseases and disorders in which the increased vascular permeability contributes to the pathology, for example, in Kaposi's Sarcoma, tumorigenesis, inflammation, diabetic retinopathy, etc. Increased effectiveness is obtained when SP-PG is combined with cortisone or a cortisone derivative, such as hydrocortisone or tetrahydrocortisone.