The present invention is related to pharmaceutical compositions for the inhibition of metastases and treatment of cancer such as bladder carcinoma, colon cancer, endometrial cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, soft tissue cancer, renal cancer, osteosarcoma, mesothelioma, myeloma multiple, bladder carcinoma and esophagcal cancer as well as the use of these pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of said metastases and cancers. Another aspect of this invention are new antisense oligonucleotides inhibiting the formation of human interleukin 10 and their synthesis. A further aspect of this invention is the use IL-10 antisense oligonucleotides for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions and for the treatment of cancer and metastases.