The Rogosin Institute

The Rogo Institute

Kurt Stenzel

Barry Scott Smith

Albert L Rubin

Barry H Smith

Kanti Jain

Shirin Asina

Bryan Conn

The invention relates to the stem cells, embryonic stem cells in particular. It has been found that, when these stem cells are entrapped such that their proliferation is inhibited, they produce material which inhibits the proliferation of other, non-entrapped cells, including stem cells and neoplastic and/or hyperproliferative, but otherwise normal cells. It has also been found that entrapped cancer cells will produce material which inhibits the proliferation of stem cells. Further, it has been found that the entrapment of the stem cells inhibits their differentiation and thus the entrapment process can serve as a long-term storage device for maintaining the undifferentiated state of at least a portion of the entrapped cells.

Entrapped stem cells and uses thereof

Compositions of matter are described which contain restricted cancer cells. When so restricted, the cells produce an unexpectedly high amount of material which suppresses cancer cell proliferation. The phenomenon crosses cancer type and species lines. Processes for making these compositions, and their use, are also described.

Beads containing restricted cancer cells producing material suppressing cancer cell proliferation

Cancer cell-inhibiting culture medium produced by culturing restricted entrapped cancer cells

Cancer-cell proliferation-suppressing material produced by cancer cells restricted by entrapment

Agarose coated agarose beads containing cancer cells which produce cancer-cell proliferation-suppressing material

A material for suppressing proliferation of cancer cells is produced by entrapping cancer cells in a selectively-permeable structure such as a bead, and culturing the entrapped cells in a culture medium. Entrapment restricts growth of the cancel cells during culturing and causes the cells to produce in the culture medium a material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd as measured by filtration that suppresses proliferation of cancer cells. The material is separated from the culture medium by filtering the medium through a filter that separates material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd from material having a molecular weight of less than 30 kd. The structure that entraps the cells may contain 10,000 to 500,000 cells. The material or the structure containing the entrapped cells that produce the material can be administered to a subject to suppress cancer cell proliferation.

A material for suppressing proliferation of cancer cells is produced by entrapping cancer cells in a selectively-permeable structure such as a bead, and culturing the entrapped cells in a culture medium. Entrapment restricts growth of the cancel cells during culturing and causes the cells to produce in the culture medium a material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd that suppresses proliferation of cancer cells. The material is separated from the culture medium by filtering the medium through a filter that separates material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd from material having a molecular weight of less than 30 kd. The structure that entraps the cells may contain 10,000 to 500,000 cells.

Implantable beads which contain agarose and optionally collagen, and are coated with agarose have incorporated within cells which produce diffusible biological products. The beads may be used as implants to modulate a recipient's immune response. The beads may also be used in an in vitro context to encourage specific types of cells to grow, to produce desirable products in culture, or to suppress growth of certain cells. The implants may also suppress growth of certain cells following administration to a subject. Cancer cells such as renal cancer cells when restricted by being entrapped in the beads produce more of a material that suppresses cancer cell proliferation.

Growing community of inventors

New York, NY, United States of America

Kurt Stenzel