Vitamin D and its analogs in the treatment of tumors and other hyperproliferative disorders
AssigneeOregon Health & Science University
InventorsWilliam D. Henner, Tomasz M. Beer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Treatment of hyperproliferative disorders (including tumors and psoriasis) by pulse administration of a drug (such as Vitamin D or an analog) that increases blood or tissue levels of Vitamin D. The drug is administered at a sufficient dose to have an anti-proliferative effect, but the pulsed administration of the drug avoids the development of severe symptomatic or life-threatening hypercalcemia. In particular embodiments, avoidance of hypercalcemia (as measured by serum levels of calcium above normal range) is avoided altogether. In a particular example, the drug is calcitriol administered at an oral dose of about 0.5 mcg/kg once a week.
Claims24
A method for the treatment of a hyperproliferative disease in a subject, wherein the hyperproliferative disease responds to treatment with a Vitamin D drug, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective pulse dose of the Vitamin D drug in a sufficient amount to have an antiproliferative effect, without inducing severe symptomatic hypercalcemia.
A method of treating a tumor in a subject, wherein the tumor expresses a Vitamin D receptor and is responsive to treatment with a Vitamin D drug, the method comprising administering orally to the subject, no more than once every three days, a dose of calcitriol of about 0.5 mcg/kg.
A composition comprising a Vitamin D drug in a pharmaceutical dosage form in a dosage that would cause hypercalcemia is administered daily.
A method of treating in a subject a tumor that expresses a Vitamin D receptor, the method comprising raising a blood level of Vitamin D to a sufficiently supraphysiologic level for a sufficient period of time to inhibit growth of the tumor, without inducing hypercalcemia in the subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.