Improved cytotoxic therapy

In a method of therapy of disease or graft rejection, wherein a human patient suffering from a disease susceptible to treatment with a cytotoxic agent or undergoing a tissue or organ transplant is treated with a therapeutic amount of a cytotoxic agent which also produces hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, the improvement which comprises administering to said patient an amount of erythropoietin effective for substantially preventing, mitigating or reversing such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to exposure to said cytotoxic agent.

In a method of therapy of disease or graft rejection, wherein a human patient suffering from a disease susceptible to treatment with a cytotoxic agent or undergoing a tissue or organ transplant is treated with a therapeutic amount of a cytotoxic agent which also produces hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, the improvement which comprises administering to said patient an amount of G-CSF effective for substantially preventing, mitigating or reversing such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to exposure to said cytotoxic agent.

In a method of therapy of disease or graft rejection, wherein a human patient suffering from a disease susceptible to treatment with a cytotoxic agent or undergoing a tissue or organ transplant is treated with a therapeutic amount of a cytotoxic agent which also produces hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, the improvement which comprises administering to said patient an amount of GM-CSF effective for substantially preventing, mitigating or reversing such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to exposure to said cytotoxic agent.

In a method of therapy of disease or graft rejection, wherein a human patient suffering from a disease susceptible to treatment with a cytotoxic agent or undergoing a tissue or organ transplant is treated with a therapeutic amount of a cytotoxic agent which also produces hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, the improvement which comprises administering to said patient an amount of thrombopoietin effective for substantially preventing, mitigating or reversing such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to exposure to said cytotoxic agent.

In a method of therapy of disease or graft rejection, wherein a human patient suffering from a disease susceptible to treatment with a cytotoxic agent or undergoing a tissue or organ transplant is treated with a therapeutic amount of a cytotoxic agent which also produces hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, the improvement which comprises administering to said patient an amount of erythropoietin and G-CSF effective for substantially preventing, mitigating or reversing such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to exposure to said cytotoxic agent.

In a method of therapy of disease or graft rejection, wherein a human patient suffering from a disease susceptible to treatment with a cytotoxic agent or undergoing a tissue or organ transplant is treated with a therapeutic amount of a cytotoxic agent which also produces hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, the improvement which comprises administering to said patient an amount of erythropoietin and GM-CSF effective for substantially preventing, mitigating or reversing such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, prior to, simultaneously with or subsequent to exposure to said cytotoxic agent.

A pharmaceutical kit comprising (a) a preparation of a cytokine, and (b) instructions for administering said cytokine to a patient that will receive treatment with a cytotoxic agent.

A pharmaceutical kit according to claim 80, further comprising a sterile preparation of a cytotoxic agent.

A method for treating a cytotoxic agent-induced hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity in a human patient which comprises administering prior to, simultaneous with or subsequent to the administration of the cytotoxic agent, at least one hematopoietic cytokine in an amount effective to prevent, mitigate or reverse such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity.

A method of cancer therapy in a human patient which comprises administering to the patient a combination of a cytotoxic agent in an amount effective to treat the cancer and at least one differentiation/maturation-inducing cytokine other than IL-2 in an amount effective to prevent, mitigate or reverse hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, wherein said cytokine is administered prior to, simultaneous with or subsequent to the administration of the therapeutic agent.

A method of cancer therapy in a human patient which comprises administering to the patient a combination of a cytotoxic agent in an amount effective to treat the cancer and at least one hematopoietic growth factor in an amount effective to prevent, mitigate or reverse hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity, wherein said cytokine is administered prior to, simultaneous with or subsequent to the administration of the therapeutic agent.

A method for preventing or mitigating myelosuppression in a human patient undergoing therapy for cancer or tissue or organ transplantation, which comprises administering to the patient a differentiation/maturation-inducing cytokine other than IL-2 in an amount effective to treat myeloid toxicity, wherein said cytokine is administered prior to, simultaneous with or subsequent to the administration of said cytotoxic agent.

A method for preventing or mitigating hematopoietic cell depression in a human patient undergoing therapy for cancer or tissue or organ transplantation which comprises administering to the patient a differentiation/maturation-inducing cytokine other than IL-2 in an amount effective to treat myeloid toxicity, wherein said cytokine is administered prior to, simultaneous with or subsequent to the administration of said cytotoxic agent.

A method for treating a cytotoxic agent-induced hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity in a human patient which comprises administering prior to, simultaneous with or subsequent to the administration of the therapeutic agent, erythropoietin in an amount effective to prevent, mitigate or reverse such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity.

A method for alleviating a physical symptom caused by hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity in a human patient undergoing therapy with a cytotoxic agent, wherein the patient is administered prior to, simultaneous with or subsequent to the administration of the cytotoxic agent, a differentiation/maturation-inducing cytokine other than IL-2 in an amount effective to prevent, mitigate or reverse such hematopoietic or myeloid toxicity.