A method for treating cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes, sickle cell disease, thalassemia, or any other inflammatory disease, and/or promoting healing thereafter includes a step of identifying a subject afflicted with cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or an inflammatory disease. A therapeutically effective dose of a pharmaceutical composition is administered to the patient. The pharmaceutical composition includes at least one metal-containing compound. Characteristically, the at least one metal-containing compound includes a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, copper, manganese, and combinations thereof.
