or - 1384 , or orazipone , is a low molecular weight ( m w 265 . 22 ), locally acting immunomodulator , that forms reversible conjugates with thiol - groups . orazipone inhibits the release of il - 1α , il - 1β and tnfα from mononuclear cells , suppresses nadph oxidase and ltb 4 production by neutrophils , and reduces t - cell proliferation and il - 2 release . orazipone also inhibits cytokine production . the systemic effects of orazipone are limited , as the drug is absorbed and broken down into inactive metabolites very quickly . orazipone is currently undergoing phase i / ii testing by orion pharma in finland in patients with inflammatory bowel disease . radiation enteropathy has several features in common with chronic inflammatory bowel disease in terms of structural and functional alterations , as well as cellular and molecular mechanisms . the present invention is directed towards a method of preventing and treating radiation enteropathy following radiation therapy for cancer . it is specifically contemplated that pharmaceutical compositions may be prepared using the application for orazipone of the present invention . in such a case , the pharmaceutical composition comprises the orazipone of the present invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier . a person having ordinary skill in this art would readily be able to determine , without undue experimentation , the appropriate dosages and routes of administration of orazipone . when used in vivo for therapy , the drug of the present invention is administered to the patient or an animal in therapeutically effective amounts , i . e ., amounts that eliminate or reduce the toxicity during and following radiation therapy . it may be administered in a solid or liquid form . for example , it may be administered orally , preferably in an enterosoluble preparation , or rectally in a suppository or in an enema . the dose and dosage regimen of orazipone will depend upon the radiation dose ( s ) being administered to the patient e . g ., the therapeutic index , the patient , the patient &# 39 ; s history and other factors . a single dose of orazipone administered will typically be in the range of about 0 . 05 to about 5 mg / kg of patient weight , whereas the typical single dose for small animals such as dog and cat will be somewhat higher , i . e . in the range of about 1 to about 50 mg / kg of body weight . the dose and dosing schedule of orazipone can be optimized for effectiveness while balanced against negative effects of treatment . see remington &# 39 ; s pharmaceutical science , 17th ed . ( 1990 ) mark publishing co ., easton , pa . ; and goodman and gilman &# 39 ; s : the pharmacological basis of therapeutics , 8th ed ( 1990 ) pergamon press ; which are incorporated herein by reference . examples of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers are water , saline , ringer &# 39 ; s solution , dextrose solution , and 5 % human serum albumin . nonaqueous vehicles such as fixed oils and ethyl oleate may also be used . liposomes may be used as carriers . the pharmaceutical composition may contain minor amounts of additives such as substances that enhance isotonicity and chemical stability , e . g ., buffers and preservatives . orazipone will typically be formulated in such vehicles at concentrations of about 0 . 001 mg / ml to 100 mg / ml such that the final dose is about 0 . 05 to 5 mg / kg of patient body weight or about 1 to 50 mg / kg of animal ( i . e . dog , cat , etc .) body weight . the following examples are given for the purpose of illustrating various embodiments of the invention and are not meant to limit the present invention in any fashion : a 4 - cm segment of distal ileum was sutured to the inside of the scrotum in orchiectomized male rats , thus forming an artificial “ scrotal hernia ”. the afferent bowel was divided 10 cm proximal to the “ hernia ”, an end ileostomy was prepared , and intestinal continuity was restored by end - to - side anastomosis . the intestine in the “ hernia ” was subsequently exposed to 0 , 18 , or 21 gy single dose , or 8 daily fractions of 5 . 6 gy ( total dose 44 . 8 gy ), external beam x - irradiation . orazipone or vehicle was injected through the stoma from 3 days prior to 2 weeks after irradiation . mucosal injury was monitored non - invasively by assessment of granulocyte marker protein ( gmp ) excretion . irradiated and shielded intestine were procured 2 weeks after irradiation and assessed for structural changes by histopathologic scoring , and for tgf - β , il - 1α , and ed - 2 macrophage antigen immunoreactivity . radiation injury scores are ad the sum of 7 different histopathologic parameters graded according to severity . intestinal wall thickness was measured with light microscopy and a stage micrometer . intestinal wall tgf - β immunoreactivity levels were measured with computerized image analysis , and the number of ed - 2 positive cells ( macrophages ) were counted with a light microscope and fields were determined according to a predetermined grid pattern . the present invention shows that a single dose of orazipone at a concentration of 30 mg / kg reduced the frequency of subacute severe small bowel radiation toxicity from 80 % to 25 % and significantly attenuated tgf - β overexpression when administered daily for 1 week after a single dose of 21 gy . overall , irradiated intestine from orazipone - treated rats exhibited less histopathologic injury ( p & lt ; 0 . 01 ), intestinal wall thickening ( p & lt ; 0 . 05 ), extracellular matrix - associated tgf - β immunoreactivity ( p & lt ; 0 . 01 ), and il - 1α positive cells ( p = 0 . 05 ), compared to vehicle - treated controls . gmp excretion and macrophage accumulation were not significantly affected by orazipone administration . there was a large difference in the degree of serosal thickening / fibrosis in the ulcerated areas . this is where the most tgf - β and lesions are normally observed , which are probably responsible for the “ consequential ” late effects . the “ consequential ” late effects are primarily responsible for the clinical complications that occur in patients . to evaluate the effects of orazipone following fractionated radiation , the transposed loop of small bowel was exposed to sham - irradiation or 8 daily fractions of 5 . 6 gy ( total dose 44 . 8 gy ). orazipone ( 30 mg / kg q . d .) or vehicle was delivered for 14 days in 2 separate experimental groups . group 1 received the drug during and after irradiation ( radiation day 2 through post - radiation day 7 ), while group 2 received the drug only after irradiation ( post - radiation days 0 through 13 ). all animals were euthanized on post - radiation day 14 . analysis of the data revealed that orazipone ( when given either during or after irradiation ) significantly ameliorated subacute radiation enteropathy as assessed by radiation injury score , intestinal wall thickness , and extracellular matrix - associated tgf - β immunoreactivity . however , the exent of mucosal injury ( assessed by mucosal surface area measurements ) did not differ among the treatment groups . thus , the present invention is directed to a method for the treatment of radiation enteropathy in a patient in need of such treatment , comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective dose of orazipone in a pharmacologically acceptable form to said patient . in general , the orazipone is administered locally to affected area of said patient . preferably , the area is selected from the group consisting of the abdomen , the intestine and the bowel . generally , the orazipone is administered in any dose which has a palliative effect on radiation enteropathy . preferably , the orazipone is administered in a dose of from about 0 . 05 mg / kg to about 5 mg / kg . generally , the orazipone may be administered in any route allowing it to have a palliative effect on radiation enteropathy . it may be administered in a solid or liquid form . for example , it may be administered orally , preferably in an enterosoluble preparation , or rectally in a suppository or in an enema . the present invention is also directed to a method for the prevention of radiation enteropathy in a patient in need of such prevention , wherein said patient is being treated with radiation therapy for cancer , comprising the steps of : administering a therapeutic dose of orazipone in a pharmacologically acceptable form locally to affected areas in said patient prior to or during said radiation therapy ; and administering a therapeutic dose of orazipone in a pharmacologically acceptable form locally to affected areas in said patient prior to , during , and / or subsequent to said radiation therapy . preferably , the area is selected from the group consisting of the abdomen , the intestine and the bowel . more preferably , the route of administration can be either orally , preferably in an enterosoluble preparation , or rectally in a suppository or in an enema . any patents or publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains . further , these patents and publications are incorporated by reference herein to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference . one skilled in the art will appreciate readily that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned , as well as those objects , ends and advantages inherent herein . the present examples , along with the methods , procedures , treatments , molecules , and specific compounds described herein are presently representative of preferred embodiments , are exemplary , and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention . changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention as defined by the scope of the claims .
intestinal radiation injury is an important dose limiting factor during treatment of abdominal and pelvic tumors and a major determinant in the quality of life among cancer survivors . inflammatory and fibrogenic mediators released by mucosal inflammatory cells are involved in the mechanisms of injury . treatment with orazipone decreases the toxicity following gy radiation dose , as measured by histopathologic scoring , tgf - β , il - 1α , and ed - 2 macrophage antigen immunoreactivity .