Prevention of ovarian cancer by administration of progestin products

• US 6,310,054 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: New Life Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: New Life Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
• Inventors: Rodriguez, Gustavo C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, Jerome D.
• Application Number:
  US09/464,899
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 514/179
• US Class Current: 514/179
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2300/00 Mixtures or combinations of active ingredients, wherein at least one active ingredient is fully defined in groups A61K31/00 - A61K41/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/565 not substituted in position 17 beta by a carbon atom, e.g. estrane, estradiol
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/57 substituted in position 17 beta by a chain of two carbon atoms, e.g. pregnane or progesterone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/59 Compounds containing 9, 10- seco- cyclopenta[a]hydrophenanthrene ring systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/593 9,10-Secocholestane derivatives, e.g. cholecalciferol, i.e. vitamin D3

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods for preventing the development of epithelial ovarian cancer by administering progestin products, either alone or in combination with other agents such as estrogen products.

Claims

1. A method for reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in a post-menopausal female subject in need thereof who is no longer ovulating comprising administering to the post-menopausal female subject a progestin product sensitive to reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in an amount effective to inhibit the conversion of non-normal, non-neoplastic ovarian epithelial cells of the female subject to neoplastic cells.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said progestin product is a gonane derivative.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said progestin product is levonorgestrel.

4. A method for reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in a post-menopausal female subject in need thereof who is no longer ovulating comprising administering to the post-menopausal female subject a progestin product sensitive to preventing ovarian cancer in an amount effective to inhibit the conversion of non-normal, non-neoplastic ovarian epithelial cells of the female subject to neoplastic cells.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said progestin product is a gonane derivative.

6. A method for reducing the risk of ovarian cancer comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition to a post-menopausal female subject in need thereof who is no longer ovulating, said composition comprising a progestin product sensitive to reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in an amount effective to inhibit the conversion of non-normal, non-neoplastic ovarian cells to neoplastic cells.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said progestin product is a gonane derivative.

8. The combination of claim 6 wherein said progestin product is levonorgestrel.

9. A method for reducing the risk of ovarian cancer comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition to a female subject in need thereof who is no longer ovulating, said composition comprising a progestin product sensitive to reducing the risk of ovarian cancer in an amount effective to increase apoptosis in non-normal ovarian epithelial cells of the female subject.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said progestin product is a gonane derivative.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said progestin product is levonorgestrel.