Helix Biopharma Corporation

Jodi Dickstein

Wah Yau Wong

Heman Chao

Jerry McElroy

John M Docherty

Donald Segal

Don Segal

Jerry Mcelroy

John Docherty

Herman Chao

Improvements in methods of treating cancer with weakly basic anti-cancer compounds are provided. In one aspect, the invention provides an improvement in a method of treating cancer cells whose extracellular environment contains 1&#x2013;8 mM urea, by exposing the cells to a weakly basic anti-cancer compound which is effective in inhibiting the growth of the cells. The improvement includes (a) exposing the cells to a urease enzyme composition and, (b) by step (a), reducing the amount of anti-cancer compound required to produce a given extent of inhibition in the growth of the cells when the cells are exposed to the anti-cancer agent. Methods of potentiating the specific therapeutic activity of a weakly basic anti-cancer compound in the treatment of a given mammalian cancer which is responsive to the compound are provided as are pharmaceutical compositions for use in intravenous administration to a subject are also provided.

Method and composition for inhibiting cancer cell growth

A pharmaceutical composition and method for use in inhibiting growth of cancer cells in a mammalian subject are disclosed. The composition includes a urease enzyme, and associated therewith, a chemical entity effective to enhance the delivery of the enzyme to cancer cells, when the composition is administered to the subject. Also disclosed are a method of enhancing the effectiveness of weakly basic anti-tumor compounds, a method assessing the presence, size or condition a solid tumor in a subject, and a gene therapy composition for treating a cancer in a subject.

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Markham, Canada

Jodi Dickstein