Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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METHOD OF MEDICAL TREATMENT USING URIC ACID OR
PRECURSORSTHEREOF
The present invention relates to a method of medical treatment
5 using uric acid or precursors thereof. More particularly, the invention is
concerned with a method for the treatment of a patient suffering from
cancer, AIDS, an infectious disease, or a viral disease, premature aging,
depression, or weakening of the immune system, using uric acid or
precursors thereof. This treatment can also be used for preventing the
l0 occurrence of the above diseases or conditions in a person which is
liable to suffer from them.
A living organism has a defense system to fight cancer formation,
cancerous tumors and metastatic lesions through the entire organism.
This system is genetically programmed and is affected by environmental
15 factors such as nutrition, medications and neutroceuticals , etc. One
third of all individuals in the U.S.A. will develop cancer. Cancer is a
second cause of death in the U.S.A. Half of the deaths are from three of
the most common types of cancer: lung, breast and colon rectum.
On the other hand, the occurrence of malignancy in deaths in
20 patients with gout is only 11% as compared with 33% in non gouty
patients (or general population). It was observed that patients with gout
and/or patients with high normal levels (350 to 450 ~mol/1 or uric acid)
without gout have substantially less or no cancer, significantly lower
incidence of infections, live longer and appear much healthier than
25 patients whose uric acid is 300 ~mol/1 or less.
At the same time it was observed that patients with cancer (other
than leukemia) had either low serum uric acid or below normal (between
140 and 230 ~mol/l. A subsequent analysis of the data relative to the
levels of uric acid was made in 10 patients with AIDS. It was found out
30 that in 7 out of 10 patients the levels of uric acid were between 140 -
220 ~mol/ and that 3 out of 10 patients had levels of uric acid between
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350 - 450 ~,mol/1. The three patients whose uric acid was 350 - 450
~mol/1 were doing extremely well and had no overt signs of AIDS.
It is also known that people with high uric acid levels are more
prone to developing hypertension, heart disease (A.S.H.D.), kidney
5 stones and diabetes. However, this group can easily be treated with
standard therapies which are available in the year 2000. These
treatments can consist of diet manipulation, lipid lowering drugs,
antithrombotic drugs such as Aspirin ° or other antiplatelet
medication.
In addition, hypertension can easily be treated with antihypertensive
10 medications.
However, a large number of people with uric acid levels of 350 -
450 ~mol/1 do not develop these problems. If gout does occur, it can
also be treated with drugs that lower uric acid, and anti-inflammatory
medications. These observations have been confirmed in a survey
15 where the incidence of neoplasms in families of patients with high levels
of uric acid was studied. It was found that the incidence of cancer in
parents and grand-parents of people with high uric acid was 17.4% as
compared with more than 50% in those whose uric acid was between
160 - 250 ~mol/1 (which is the lower range of normal).
20 It was also observed that people with high levels of uric acid for
example in the range of 350 - 450 ~mol/1 are less susceptible of catching
viral or infectious diseases, of prematurely aging, of undergoing
depression, of suffering from fibromyalgia, or a weakening of their
immune system, than those with low normal levels of uric acid.
25 A hypothesis was even made in the prior art to the effect that uric
acid may provide an antioxidant defense in humans against cancer
(PNAS (USA),1 78: 6858 - 6862 (1981). However, it was not
established in this reference, how to treat people against cancer using
uric acid, and the hypothesis was never confirmed.
30 There is also a suggestion in the prior art to combine uric acid
with a lymphokine or a cytotoxin, or with a tumor necrosis factor, or a
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colony stimulating factor to treat damage to cells, tissue or other body
parts in a mammalian host (U.S. 5,508,031; 5,667,776 and 5,702,697).
The presence of uric acid is merely intended at protecting the person
treated against damage caused by the therapeutic agent, and is not aimed
5 at curing cancer.
U.S. 3,105,009 discloses using maleuric acid to inhibit mitosis of
tumor cells. It should be noted that maleuric acid is a substantially
different compound than uric acid. Furthermore, this Patent teaches a
direct contact of the tumor cells with maleuric acid, contrary to what is
10 proposed in the present invention.
U.S. 5,872,124 teaches using uric acid for treating a disease of
the central nervous system, which may include AIDS. No indication is
given of how to specifically use uric acid to achieve the desired result,
except to propose an effective dose of uric acid. This Patent discloses a
15 treatment for neurological damage. More specifically, the Patent
suggests to treat allergic encephalitis which may occur in AIDS,
however, it does not suggests treating AIDS per se.
U.S. 6,028,076 discloses the use of specific purine derivatives
which do not include uric acid to treat diseases against which interferon
20 is effective. This Patent deals with the treatment of random diseases, it
does not teach a treatment for a specific disease.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for
treating mammals suffering from cancer, AIDS, an infectious disease, or
a viral disease using uric acid or precursors thereof.
25 It is another object of the present invention to provide a method
of prevention whereby mammals susceptible of catching diseases such
as cancer, AIDS, an infectious disease or a viral disease are treated with
uric acid or a precursor thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method
30 for preventing mammals from premature aging, depression,
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fibromyalgia, or undergoing a weakening of their immune system, by
treating them with uric acid or a precursor thereof.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a
method for the treatment of a mammal suffering from cancer, AIDS, an
5 infectious disease, a viral disease, premature aging, depression, a
weakening of the immune system, or for preventing the occurrence of
same in a mammal liable to suffer from same, which comprises
administering to said mammal, uric acid or a precursor thereof until the
level of serum uric acid in said mammal is raised to about 300 to 500
l0 ~mol/l.
The precursor of uric acid which is preferred is a nucleic acid
which comprises ribonucleic acid, deoxyribonucleic acid and brewer's
yeast.
Uric acid or its precursor may be administered orally or
15 intravenously. In the case of uric acid, the preferred dose would be one
which would increase the serum uric acid concentration to be between
about 300 and 500 ~,mol/l. In the case of a precursor of uric acid, the
preferred dose is between about 400 and 800 mg.
The invention is now illustrated by means of the following test
20 cases, all dealing with some forms of cancer. However, since mammals
with high levels of uric acid do not generally suffer from other related
diseases as mentioned above, it is reasonable to assume that the above
treatment with uric acid or a precursor of uric acid, may apply to the
other related diseases
25 Test case 1
The patient was a 52 year old Caucasian female who had breast
cancer diagnosed in 1984. The same year, she had mastectomy and was
found PGR positive. She was subsequently treated with chemotherapy
and Tamoxifen. In 1997, she had metastatic pleural effusions and was
30 treated with Epirubicin and Taxol. In spite of treatments, her disease
increased and she was treated with Xelodex. Nevertheless, the patient
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continued to deteriorate. In January 2000, her uric acid level was 186
~mol/1 and in addition to her regiment she was started on high purine
diet and uric acid precursors (RNA + DNA = brewer's yeast 1000 mg).
One month later, her uric acid improved to 224 ~,mol/1 and her weight
5 increased by 3 pounds. She also feels better and the progression of
cancer appears to be clinically arrested.
Test case 2
The patient is a 46 year old Caucasian female. She was
diagnosed with advanced cervix cancer. She was treated with combined
l0 chemo/radiation protocol. She was improved but still complained of
fatigue and lymphadenopathy in the inguinal area. Her uric acid has
been fluctuating between 132 ~mol/1 to 178 ~mol/l. She was put on
high purine diet plus precursor of uric acid (RNA + DNA + brewer's
yeast - 500 tidy. Six weeks later, the lymph nodes in the inguinal area
15 are not palpable while her uric acid increased to 282 ~mol/1. Presently
she feels stronger than she has been for 6 years. She is being followed
regularly.
Test case 3
This patient is a 73 year old Caucasian male who presented a
20 prostate carcinoma which metastasized to lymph nodes. Upon
examination he had a 6 cm lymph node in the Lt. inguinal area and his
PSA was 58 which increased recently from 17. Uric acid was 208
~mol/1. He was taking Zolodex 1 tab t.i.d. A supplement of nucleic
acids was added at dose of 500 mg, three times a day. Two weeks later,
25 the lesion in groin decreased to 2 cm and uric acid increased to 240
~mol/1. One month later, the lesion in the inguinal area was
undetectable. His P.S.A. decreased to 21 and uric acid increased to 276
pmol/le. He feels stronger, able to cope well and is less anxious.
Test case 4
30 The patient is a 78 year old man with rectal polyps. The bleeding
per rectum occurred during the last 6 months and the patient had
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colonoscopy to determine if the bleeding was secondary to neoplasm.
The biopsy revealed colonic neoplasm and the patient is scheduled for
surgical resection. His uric acid was found to be 204 ~,mol/1. He was
placed on a high purine diet and precursors of uric acid (RNA+ DNA +
5 brewer's yeast) 500 mg t.i.d., while awaiting surgery. Two weeks later,
the serum uric acid went up to 284 and bleeding per rectum stopped.
The patient will undergo another conoloscopy and biopsy, but is
presently reasonably well.
Test case 5
l0 The patient is a 58 year old Caucasian female who was diagnosed
in 1997 with ovarian cancer, involving entire peritoneum. She had total
abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo - oophorectomy, infracolic
omentectomy, transverse colectomy and a biopsy of retrosigmoid
nodule.
15 The pathological report was as follows: lymph nodes - metastatic
carcinoma of myometrium, ovaries showed pooly differentiated
papillary serous adenocarcinoma.
After surgery, the patient improved but in 1999, she developed
matastasis to the cerebellum. In 1999, cerebellar metastasis were
20 removed surgically. Upon reviewing the case, it was noted that the
serum uric acid levels were low normal: in 1997 it was 188 ~mol/1 and
in 1999 uric acid was 182 ~mol/1. In February 2000, she was started on
a high purine diet and uric acid precursors (RNA, DNA, Brewer's yeast,
500 mg t.i.d.). Six weeks later her serum uric acid rose to 264 ~mol/1
25 and she feels well. There is no evidence or recurrences. The patient is
being monitored closely.
To summarize, people with uric acid levels above about 350 ~mol/1
appear younger, healthier, usually free of cancer and free of upper
respiratory infections. It was also observed that patients with gout or
30 high uric acid experienced very few infections, days missed at work due
to infections. As a result of these findings it is believed that monitoring
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serum uric acid levels and using either uric acid per se or precursors
thereof such as nucleic acids to elevate serum uric acid to levels between
350 - 450 ~,mol/1 is beneficial in treatment and prevention of cancers,
infections, AIDS, and other related diseases. Therefore, according to the
5 present invention, uric acid may be used as for example an antibiotic, an
antiviral, an anti-cancer agent. Also uric acid can be used in prevention
of cancer in patients with low uric acid levels and a high risk factor for
cancer. Uric acid can also be used in prevention of frequent infections
such as upper respiratory infections, AIDS and viral infections and also
10 depression.
Of course , it is within the scope of the present invention to use
the above treatment for other disease than cancer such as those
mentioned above, and to provide a kit for the determination of levels of
uric acid in a mammal requiring such treatment or liable to suffer from
15 the above diseases.
