METHOD OF TREATING REFRACTORY CANCER
Therapeutic methods for treating refractory cancers are disclosed comprising administering to a patient in need of treatment a ruthenium complex salt.
1 . A method of treating lung cancer, comprising:
administering a therapeutically effective amount of an alkali metal salt of trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] to a patient having lung cancer that is either (1) identified as having tumor cells harboring the T790M mutation in the EGFR gene, or (2) previously treated with a regimen comprising one or more drugs chosen from the group of paclitaxel, docetaxel, carboplatin, bevacizumab, sorafenib, gemcitabine, zoledronic acid, pemetrexed, navelbine, vatalanib, imatinib, erlotinib, gefitinib, cetuximab and panutimumab.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the lung cancer is NSCLC.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein sodium trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] is administered.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein sodium trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] is administered intravenously at an amount of at least 320 mg/m 2 .
5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein sodium trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] is administered intravenously at an amount of at least 500 mg/m 2 .
6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the lung cancer has previously been treated with a regimen comprising paclitaxel.
7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the lung cancer has previously been treated with a regimen comprising gemcitabine.
8 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the lung cancer has previously been treated with a regimen comprising erlotinib or gefitinib.
9 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the lung cancer has previously been treated with a regimen comprising sorafenib.
10 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the lung cancer has previously been treated with a regimen comprising bevacizumab.
11 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the lung cancer has previously been treated with a regimen comprising docetaxel and/or carboplatin.
12 . A method of treating colorectal cancer, comprising
administering to a patient previously treated with a regimen comprising one or more drugs selected from the group consisting of oxaliplatin, capecitibine, cetuximab, irinotecan and panitumumab, a therapeutically effective amount of an alkali metal salt of trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)].
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein said alkali metal salt is a sodium salt.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said regimen comprises oxaliplatin.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said regimen comprises irinotecan.
16 . A method of treating melanoma, comprising:
administering a therapeutically effective amount of an alkali metal salt of trans-[tetrachlorobis(1H-indazole)ruthenate(III)] to a melanoma patient previously treated with a regimen comprising temozolomide.