Inhibition of abnormal cell growth with corticotropin-releasing hormone analogs
AssigneesThe Regents of the University of California, Loyola University of Chicago
InventorsEdward T. Wei, Andrzej T. Slominski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The glutamic acid residue of corticotropin-releasing hormone analogs have had the position 20 amino acid residue replaced with a D-amino acid moiety. The resulting CRH analogs do not significantly lower blood pressure but have anti-proliferative actions in cell culture and inhibit experimental cancer growth in animals (mice and rats). Novel applications of such analogs are described, such as to inhibit abnormal cell proliferation for conditions such as cancer, including melanoma, and for inflammatory dermatoses, such as psoriasis.
Claims17
A method of treating a patient suffering from an inflammatory dermatoses psoriatic condition, comprising:
- administering to the patient a peptide analog of a Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH) having the amino acid sequence of human CRH (SEQ ID NO:1), but wherein the 20th amino acid from the N-terminus is a D-amino acid and wherein the analog provides an anti-proliferative activity for keratinocytes in vivo that is substantially free of hypotension.
The method of claim of 3 wherein the analog administered is human/rat [D-Glu20] CRH.
A method of inhibiting abnormal epidermal cell proliferation in a patient diagnosed at risk of same, comprising:
- administering an analog of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), said analog having the 20th amino acid from the N-terminus of a 41 amino acid peptide of the corticotropin-releasing hormone superfamily or the 19th amino acid from the N-terminal of a 40 amino acid peptide of the corticotropin-releasing hormone superfamily is a D-configuration amino acid residue, wherein said analog inhibits abnormal epidermal cell proliferation.
A kit useful for treating a patient suffering from an excessive epidermal cell proliferation comprising:
- a pharmaceutically acceptable formulation containing a concentration of at least about 0.1% w/w of a CRH analog in which the 20th amino acid from the N-terminal is a D-configuration amino acid residue, the CRH analog providing an anti-proliferative activity for keratinocytes when appropriately administered;
- and
- instructional materials for appropriate administration in the therapeutic use of the pharmaceutically suitable formulation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.