Treatment of infection

Abstract

The invention relates to compositions including a substance useful as an adjuvant for potentiating an immune response, and methods of using the composition in individuals with infections of tissue within or adjacent to a transformation zone, such as the transformation zone of the cervix or anal canal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention relates generally to infections of tissue within or adjacent to a transformation zone, such as the transformation zones of the cervix and anus, especially infections by human papillomavirus (HPV). The invention also relates to adjuvants that have been used in vaccines against HPV including, but not limited to, AS04.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Reference to any prior art in the specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.[0003]The cervix is the lower, narrower portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. The exposed portion of the cervix that projects into the vagina is called the exocervix or ectocervix. The opening of the ectoce...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The invention seeks to at least minimise one or more of the above mentioned problems or limitations and in one embodiment provides a method for treating an infection in an individual. The method includes the steps of selecting an individual having an infection of tissue within or adjacent to a transformation zone; and contacting the tissue with a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including a substance useful as an adjuvant for potentiating an immune response, the substance being comprised of a combination of aluminium hydroxide and 3′-deacylated monophospholipid A, or aluminium hydroxide or 3′-deacylated monophospholipid A.

[0021]In further embodiments there is provided a method of minimising the incidence of a complication of a cervical HPV infection in an individual including the step of selecting an individual having a cervical HPV infection and contacting infected tissue in or adjacent to a transformation zone in the individual with a therapeutically effective amount of a composition including a substance useful as an adjuvant for potentiating an immune response, the substance being comprised of a combination of aluminium hydroxide and 3′-deacylated monophospholipid A.

Problems solved by technology

The transformation zone is itself particularly vulnerable to the effects of infections, the most well known one being infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).

These more radical treatments however are associated with increased risk of complications including cervical stenosis, constriction and complete sealing of the os, pelvic endometriosis following hematometra, painful and prolonged menstruation, excessive eversion of columnar epithelium, infection, bleeding, pain, psychological morbidity, infertility, and an incompetent cervix.

And even after treatment, disease may recur and even progress to invasive cancer.

In contrast, there is currently no reliable and effective treatment available for women who have been diagnosed with an HPV infection, usually during their routine Pap smears, but are asymptomatic or only have low grade lesions.

1. Some women are distressed by having Pap smear abnormalities even though they are not considered to be serious. In order to alleviate their concerns, many women with low-grade lesions undergo unnecessary treatment with the more radical methods reserved for severe IN.

2. In the absence of treatment, it is more difficult to ensure that the woman attends for further follow-up and monitoring for possible progression to high-grade disease.

Vaccines such as these however have two key limitations.

The second limitation is that HPV immunity is type-specific.

The anus for example is also particularly vulnerable to the effects of HPV infection at the transformation zone where the stratified squamous cells of the anal verge change over to the columnar epithelial cells of the rectum.

This is obviously an unsatisfactory approach for individuals with early stage infection, who must simply sit back and wait to see if they develop cancer or other complications of HPV infection.