Recovery of the tumor suppressor function against tumor cells by DNA hypomethylation

摘要

Compositions and methods are provided for treating diseases associated with abnormal cell proliferation such as cancer by storing inherent tumor-suppressing functions of neoplastic cells through DNA hypomethylation. The method comprising: delivering to a patient suffering from cancer a therapeutically effective amount of a DNA methylation inhibitor such as decitabine, in combination with an effective amount of an anti-neoplastic agent whose activity as an anti-neoplastic agent in vivo is adversely affected by aberrant DNA methylation. The anti-neoplastic agent can be an alkylating agent, an antibiotic agent, an antimetabolic agent, a retinoid, a hormonal agent, a plant-derived agent, an anti-angiogenesis agent and a biologic agent such as a monoclonal anti-body and interferon.