NON-INJECTION CARCINOSTATIC AGENT FOR SUPPRESSING OCCURRENCE OF INFLAMMATION DUE TO 5-FLUOROURACIL AND METHOD FOR CURING CANCER

Abstract: This invention provides a non-injection carcinostatic agent containing a 5-fluorouracil and an oxonic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof as the active ingredients adapted for use in suppressing the occurrence of inflammation due to the 5-fluorouracil and a method for curing cancer while suppressing the occurrence of such inflammation.

Description: The present invention relates to a non-injection type anti-cancer composition containing a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) type compound as an anti-cancer component and capable of inhibiting inflammation from developing due to the 5-fluorouracil type compound. 5-FU type compounds have an excellent anti-tumor effect and are widely used as an anti-cancer agent for clinical purposes. However, it is known that 5-fluorouracil type compounds have the serious problems of frequently causing inflammation in oral cavity, digestive tract tissues and the like and inducing diarrhea after administration. J.G. Niedzwicki et al. reported that the 5-FU activated by an in-vivo phosphorylating enzyme exhibits an anti-tumor activity in cancer cells but causes inflammation in normal tissues and that some kinds of pyrimidine compounds inhibit the activation of 5-FU due to the phosphorylating enzyme (Biochemical Pharmacology, Vol.33, No.15, pp.2383-2395, 1984). JP-B-37766/1988 discloses that specific triazine compounds or pyrimidine compounds used conjointly with a 5-FU type compound can improve the anti-tumor effect of the 5-FU type compound without increase of its toxicity and side effect. The pyrimidine compounds tested for improved anti-tumor effects of 5-FU type compounds in the publication would be unlikely to augment the side effect of inflammation due to the 5-FU type compound but could not mitigate the side effect. It is an object of the present invention to provide an excellent anti-cancer composition capable of effectively suppressing the occurrence of inflammation due to a 5-FU type compound present therein as an effective component. According to the present invention, there is provided a non-injection type anti-cancer composition comprising a 5-fluorouracil type compound and an oxonic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof as effective components, the composition being capable of inhibiting the development of inflammation due to the 5-fluorouracil type coumpound. Another object of the present invention is the use of an oxonic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof in the manufacture of a non-injection type medicament for the inhibition of the development of inflammations which are due to the administration of a 5-fluorouracil type compound in the form of a non-injection type anti-cancer composition. We conducted extensive research on the improvements in the anti-cancer effects of 5-FU type compounds by numerous pyrimidine compounds known as an agent for improving the anti-tumor effect of 5-FU type compounds and on the effects of pyrimidine compounds of inhibiting the inflammation development due to the 5-FU type compound. Most compounds heretofore proved to improve the anti-tumor effects of 5-FU type compounds had no or little inhibitory effect on inflammation. Our continued intensive investigations showed the unexpected fact that an oxonic acid can effectively suppress the occurrence of inflammation and diarrhoea due to a 5-FU type compound with substantially no decrease in the anti-tumor effect of 5-FU type compound. Moreover, another discovery was that an oxonic acid can produce a high degree of the inflammation-inhibiting effect only when present in a non-injection type anti-cancer agent containing a 5-FU type compound. Thus it has been made possible according to the invention to suppress effectively inflammation in digestive tract and oral cavity and diarrhea from occurring due to a 5-FU type compound with substantially no reduction in the anti-tumor effect of 5-FU type compound. Further the anti-cancer composition of the invention increases neither the toxicity of 5-FU type compound nor other side effects than inflammation. A further finding was that the combined use of specific 5-FU type compound and oxonic acid can inhibit inflammation development more effectively. The present invention has been accomplished based on these novel findings. 5-FU type compounds include various species heretofore known as anti-cancer agents which are all known for their tendency to induce a more or less degree of inflammation after administration. Specific examples of such 5-FU type compounds are various compounds known as the effective component of anti-cancer agents; and the 5-fluorouracil derivatives and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof disclosed, e.g., in EP-A-180897, GB-A-2192880, JP-A-201127/1988 and other patent publications and literature. Representative examples of 5-FU type compounds are 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR), 1-(2-tetrahydrofuranyl)-5-fluorouracil (FT-207), 3-[3-[6-benzoyloxy-3-cyano-2-pyridyloxycarbonyl)benzoyl]-1-ethoxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (Compound a ); derivatives thereof and their pharmacologically acceptable salts. An oxonic acid, specifically 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-4,6-dioxo-1,3,5-triazine-2-carboxylic acid, has been used chiefly as a reagent for producing a hyperuricemia model [Clinical Toxicology, 13(1), 47 (1978)] but has never been used in order to suppress the occurrence of inflammation and diarrhea due to 5-FU type compounds. Oxonic acids include their keto-enol tautomers as a matter of course. Oxonic acid salts include pharmacologically acceptable acid addition salts and pharmacologically acceptable salts of basic compounds. Examples of acids capable of forming acid addition salts are hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, hydrobromic acid and similar inorganic acids, oxalic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, malonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, benzoic acid and similar organic acids. Examples of basic compounds capable of forming pharmacologically acceptable salts of basic compounds are sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate, etc. Also usable as oxonic acids are substances capable of producing oxonic acid in vivo. According to the invention, a 5-FU type compound and an oxonic acid as the effective components are usually made into a single anti-cancer preparation. Alternatively a 5-FU type compound and an oxonic acid may be made each into respective preparations which may be taken together or separately. In other words, the oxonic acid preparation can be administered at any suitable time before or after the administration of the 5-FU type compound preparation. As described above, the anti-cancer composition of the present invention is provided as a mixture of 5-FU type compound and oxonic acid or as two separate preparations each containing the respective components. In either case, these preparations are produced in a non-injection form by conventional methods using a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Useful carriers include those widely used for common pharmaceuticals, such as fillers, extenders, binders, disintegrators, surfactants, lubricants and similar diluents and excipients. The dosage forms of the anti-cancer composition according to the invention are not specifically limited insofar as they are not injections. The dosage form in the invention can be suitably selected according to the intended therapeutic purpose. Specific examples of the dosage form are tablets, pills, powders, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, granules, capsules, suppositories, ointments, gargles, troches, etc. Examples of carriers useful for shaping tablets are lactose, sucrose, sodium chloride, glucose, urea, starch, calcium carbonate, kaolin, crystalline cellulose, silicic acid and similar excipients, simple syrup, glucose solution, starch solution, gelatin solution, carboxymethyl cellulose, shellac, methyl cellulose, potassium phosphate, polyvinyl pyrrolidone and similar binders, dried starch, sodium alginate, agar powders, laminaran powders, sodium hydrogencarbonate, calcium carbonate, polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid ester, sodium lauryl sulfate, monoglyceride stearate, starch, lactose and similar disintegrators, sucrose, stearin, cacao butter, hydrogenated oil and similar disintegration inhibitors, quaternary ammonium base, sodium lauryl sulfate and similar absorption accelerators, glycerin, starch and similar moisture-retaining agents, starch, lactose, kaolin, bentonite, colloidal silicic acid and similar adsorbents, purified talc, stearate, boric acid powder, polyethylene glycol and similar lubricants. When required, tablets may be coated with conventional materials. Examples of coated tablets are those with a sugar-, gelatin- or enteric-coating, coating film, double-layer or multi-layer. Carriers suitable for pills are glucose, lactose, starch, cacao fats, hardened vegetable oils, kaolin, talc and similar excipients, gum arabic powders, tragacanth gum powders, gelatin and similar binders, laminaran, agar and similar disintegrators. Carriers for suppositories include polyethylene glycol, cacao fats, higher alcohols, esters of higher alcohols, gelatin, semi-synthetic glyceride, etc. Capsules can be made by mixing an oxonic acid, or an oxonic acid and a 5-FU type compound with a suitable carrier such as the above examples and enclosing the mixture with hard gelatin capsules and soft gelatin capsules. For paste, cream or gel, a diluent is used. Representative diluents are white petrolatum, paraffin, glycerin, cellulose derivatives, polyethylene glycol, silicone and bentonite. Carriers useful for troches include glucose, lactose, starch, cacao fats, hardened vegetable oil, kaolin and talc. Gargles can be produced by mixing oxonic acid as the effective component with a suitable carrier when so required and diluting the mixture with a diluent. Optionally gargles may be provided as a dilution type in the form of tablets, pills, powders, solutions, suspensions, emulsions and granules which contain oxonic acid. In this case, the gargle is dissolved, suspended or emulsified in a suitable diluent immediately before use. Representative of diluents is water. The foregoing preparations may further contain a colouring agent, preservative, perfume, flavouring, sweetener and another medication. The amounts of 5-FU type compound and oxonic acid in the anti-cancer composition of the invention can be suitably determined without specific limitation but are usually each in the range of 1 to 70% by weight based on the weight of the composition. The methods of administration in the invention are not specifically limited insofar as they are not injection methods. Non-injection methods include methods of intestinal, oral, rectal, stomatic and percutaneous administrations. The route of administration can be determined according to the dosage form, patient's age, sex and other conditions, severity of patient's symptom, etc. For example, tablets, pills, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, granules and capsules are given by oral administration, and suppositories are rectally administered. Ointments are applied to skins and intraoral mucosa. The dosage of the composition is suitably determinable in the invention according to the patient's age, sex and other conditions, degree of patient's symptom, etc. and is usually selected such that a daily dose of 5-FU type compound is 1 to 100 mg, preferably 4 to 20 mg, per kilogram of the body weight and a daily dose of oxonic acid is 1 to 100 mg, preferably 2 to 30 mg, per kilogram of the body weight. While the ratio of 5-FU type compound and oxonic acid is not specifically limited, a suitable amount of oxonic acid used is 0.05 to 10 times, preferably 0.2 to 0.5 times, the weight of 5-FU type compound used. The composition of the invention may be given daily in one to four divided doses. A gargle preparation is used in the form of a solution containing 0.1 to 10 mg of oxonic acid per milliliter of the solution (final concentration) as in common gargles. A suitable dose of a gargle is 100 to 300 ml once a day. The gargle is administrable at divided doses daily. Examples The present invention will be described below in greater detail with reference to the following Pharmacological Test Examples and Preparation Examples. Pharmacological Test Example 1 Test for activity to inhibit inflammation development in digestive tract: (a) Preparation I of Test Specimens In a 1% solution of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose was suspended 3-[3-(6-benzoyloxy-3-cyano-2-pyridyloxycarbonyl)benzoyl]-1-ethoxymethyl-5-fluorouracil (hereinafter referred to as "Compound a ") to a concentration of 4.0 mg/ml. The suspension was stirred by a stirrer at room temperature for about 20 minutes and subjected to ultrasonic treatment with ice-cooling for 5 minutes, giving a test specimen (1). Test specimens (2) to (6) were prepared in the same manner as above by adding potassium oxonate to the test specimen (1) to concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/ml, respectively. (b) Preparation II of Test Specimens In a 1% solution of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose was suspended each of 5'-DFUR, 5-FU and UFT (5% suspension of gum arabic containing uracil and FT-207 in a ratio of 4 : 1, manufactured by Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) in place of Compound a used in Preparation I of Test Specimens to concentrations of 20.0, 4.0 and 4.0 mg/ml, respectively. The three suspensions were each stirred by a stirrer at room temperature for about 20 minutes and subjected to ultrasonic treatment with ice-cooling for 5 minutes, giving test specimens (7), (13) and (18), respectively. Test specimens (8) to (12) were prepared in the same manner as above by adding potassium oxonate to the test specimen (7) to concentrations of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/ml, respectively. Test specimens (14) to (17) were prepared in the same manner as above by adding potassium oxonate to the test specimen (13) to concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/ml, respectively. Similarly test specimens (19) to (22) were prepared by adding potassium oxonate to the test specimen (18) to concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 5.0 mg/ml, respectively. (c) Experiment for anti-cancer activity Yoshida sarcoma cells (2 x 10⁴) were subcutaneously transplanted in the back of 5 week-old male Donryu-strain rats. Twenty-four hours after the transplantation, the test specimens (1) to (22) were each orally administered to rats at a dose of 1.0 ml per 100 g of rat's body weight once a day. The test specimens were administered for 7 consecutive days. Only a 1% solution of hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose was orally administered to tumor-bearing rats as a control group. The rats were sacrificed on the 8th day after the transplantation, and their tumors and tissues of digestive tracts were removed. The weight of the removed tumor was measured and the rate of reduction of tumor (%) was given by the following equation. Rate of reduction of tumor = [1-(T/C)] x 100 T: weight of tumor (g) of rats in the group given test specimens C: weight of tumor (g) of rats in the control group Slice samples were produced from the removed digestive tracts and observed under an optical microscope to evaluate the incidence of inflammation in digestive tracts. The incidence of inflammation was expressed in the following four grades in terms of the number of affected parts: (-) = free of inflammation; (+) = slight degree of inflammation; (++) = moderate degree of inflammation; and (+++) = high degree of inflammation. The slice samples were produced by cutting open the removed digestive tracts, washing the cut tracts with a physiological saline and immersing them in a 10% formalin solution as a neutral buffer for fixation. The incidence (%) of slight or higher degree of inflammation was indicated as the incidence of digestive tract inflammation. Table 1 below shows the results. Comparative Pharmacological Test Example (a) Using Compound a (4 mg/100 g) and allopurinol known to have an activity to suppress the phosphorylation of 5-FU type compound, the relation between the rate of reduction of tumor (%) and the incidence of inflammation in digestive tracts (%) in rats was investigated in the same manner as above. Table 2 below shows the results. (b) Using Compound a (4 mg/100 g) and the compound disclosed in JP-B-37766/ 1988 as capable of inhibiting the decrease of body weight due to 5-FU type compound, the relation between the rate of reduction of tumor (%) and the incidence of inflammation in digestive tracts (%) in seven rats was investigated in the same manner as above. Table 3 below shows the results. (c) Based on the results in Tables 1 to 3, a dose (A) of medicinal compounds combined with Compound a and a dose (B) thereof were determined to calculate an effect coefficient (A/B), the dose (A) being one (mg/100 g) at which the anti-tumor effect of Compound a was evidently reduced and the dose (B) being one (mg/100 g) at which the inflammation in digestive tracts was alleviated. Table 4 below shows the results. Table 4 shows that the potassium oxonate exhibited a far higher effect coefficient against 5-FU type compound than other compounds combined with 5-FU type compound suggesting that the potassium oxonate is very useful as a compound to be combined with 5-FU type compound. Pharmacological Test Example 2 Test for inhibitory effect on diarrhoea This test was carried out in the following manner using beagles to check the effect of oxonic acid in inhibiting diarrhea development due to continued administration of a large quantity of 5-FU type compound. Stated more specifically, four beagles each weighing 10 to 12 kg were divided into two experimental groups (A) and (B), two dogs in each group. In the experimental group (A), only Compound a was administered to a control (one dog) at a dose of 75 mg/kg/day, while Compound a and oxonic acid were administered to the test dog (one dog) at doses of 75 mg/kg/day and 20 mg/kg/day, respectively. In the experimental group (B), Compound a alone was administered to a control (one dog) at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day, while Compound a and oxonic acid were administered to the test dog (one dog) at doses of 50 mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively. The foregoing test compounds in powder form were encapsulated with gelatin and forcibly orally administered. After the start of oral administration, the excrement by the beagles was observed twice (morning and evening) a day. When soft feaces or liquid feces were detected, the day was taken as the date of occurrence of diarrhea, and the number of days lapsed until the development of diarrhoea was counted. Table 5 below shows the results. Table 5 shows that the control dog (to which Compound a alone was given) had diarrhea 5 to 7 days after the start of administration, whereas the test dog (to which oxonic acid was administered together with Compound a ) had diarrhea later, namely 14 to 15 days after the start of administration. The conjoint use of oxonic acid allowed use of Compound a at an increased dose until the occurrence of diarrhea. Pharmacological Test Example 3 Test for therapeutic effect on intraoral inflammation This test was conducted in the following manner using beagles to see whether the beagle was able to recover by the application of oxonic acid from the intraoral inflammation (stomatitis) caused due to continuous administration of a large quantity of 5-FU type compound. Two beagles of the same type as those in Pharmacological Test Example 2 were used respectively as a control (one dog) and as a test dog (one dog). Compound a (50 mg/kg) encapsulated in gelatin was forcibly orally administered to the beagles. The administration was continued for 6 consecutive days per week. Even after the development of stomatitis, Compound a was continuously administered to the control at a dose of 50 mg/kg in the same manner as above. An oxonic acid-containing ointment (in an amount of 1 g per application) was applied to the affected part in the oral cavity of the test dog twice (morning and evening) a day after the development of stomatitis (11th day after the start of administration of the anti-tumor agent) while Compound a was continuously administered. The ointment was prepared by adding a potassium oxonate to an olive oil-containing bleached beeswax ointment in an amount of 20 mg per gram of the ointment, and uniformly kneading the mixture. The oral cavity of the beagles was observed with the unaided eye in administration of Compound a , and the degree of inflammation was evaluated in the following four grades in conformity with the standard for stomatitis as side effect (Japan Society for Cancer Therapy): - ... none, + ... dolor, erythema, blistering, ++ ... erosion, ulcer, +++ ... ulcer, hemorrhage, unable to eat Table 6 below shows the results. Table 6 suggests that the progress of intraoral inflammation can be prevented and the dog was able to recover from the inflammation by the application of oxonic acid to the oral cavity after the development of stomatitis. Tablets each having the foregoing composition were prepared in a conventional manner. Tablets each having the foregoing composition were prepared in a conventional manner. Tablets each having the foregoing composition were prepared in a conventional manner. Tablets each having the foregoing composition were prepared in a conventional manner. Tablets each having the foregoing composition were prepared in a conventional manner. A gargle having the above composition per 100 ml thereof was prepared by a known method.

Claims: A non-injection type anti-cancer composition comprising a 5-fluorouracil type compound and an oxonic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof as effective components, the composition being capable of inhibiting the development of inflammation due to the 5-fluorouracil type compound. Composition according to claim 1 which is in the form of a suppository for rectal administration. Composition according to claim 1 which is in the form of a preparation for oral administration. Composition according to claim 1 wherein the 5-fluorouracil type compound is at least one compound selected from 5-fluorouracil, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, 1-(2-tetrahydrofuranyl)-5-fluorouracil, 3-[3-(6-benzoyloxy-3-cyano-2-pyridyloxycarbonyl) benzoyl]-1-ethoxymethyl-5-fluorouracil and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof. Composition according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the oxonic acid or the pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof is contained therein in an amount of 0.05 to 10 times the weight of the 5-fluorouracil type compound. Use of an oxonic acid or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof in the manufacture of a non-injection type medicament for the inhibition of the development of inflammations which are due to the administration of a 5-fluorouracil type compound in the form of a non-injection type anti-cancer composition. Use according to claim 6 wherein the oxonic acid or pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof is incorporated in the non-injection type anti-cancer composition containing said 5-fluorouracil type compound. Use according to any one of claims 6 and 7 wherein the medicament is in a form for oral or rectal administration. Use according to any one of claims 6 and 7 wherein the 5-fluorouracil type compound is at least one compound selected from 5-fluorouracil, 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine, 1-(2-tetrahydrofuranyl)-5-fluorouracil,3-[3-(6-benzoyloxy-3-cyano-2-pyridyloxycarbonyl)benzoyl]-1-ethoxymethyl5-fluorouracil and pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof.

Inventors: FUJII, SETSURO, FUKUSHIMA, MASAKAZU, SHIRASAKA, TETSUHIKO
Applicants: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: A61K31