Patent · US Expired

.beta.-Glucuronidase activity and/or pH-dependent pharmaceuticals and thier methods of production

US4584368A · kind A · utility

10Cited by
6References
2Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 13, 1978
Grant dateApr 22, 1986
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 13, 1998

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A50/30
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Hyperacidified tumors having high .beta.-glucuronidase activity can be treated with glucuronides with aglycones toxic to the tumor cells with great safety toward the rest of the body by first administering an alkalinizing agent in an amount sufficient to maintain the pH level of non-tumor tissues at approximately 7.4 during the glucuronide treatment. This will cause inactivation of .beta.-glucuronidase activity in the rest of the body. Novel glucuronides are disclosed the aglycones of which exert a higher toxic effect in an acid environment or is water-soluble only in an alkaline environment. Such compounds have particular utility with the above process. By substituting radioisotopes into the aglycone, diagnosis and in situ radiation therapy may be accomplished. Bacterial cells having .beta.-glucuronidase activity may also be diagnosed and treated in accordance with the present invention. A urine test is disclosed to determine the amount of free glucuronic acid in the urine which is an indication of the presence of a tumor in the body having high .beta.-glucuronidase activity.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.