Drug – bio-affecting and body treating compositions – Preparations characterized by special physical form – Implant or insert
Patent
1995-09-22
1998-01-06
Azpuru, Carlos A.
Drug, bio-affecting and body treating compositions
Preparations characterized by special physical form
Implant or insert
A61F 202
Patent
active
057051801
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a therapeutic agent for the treatment of a melanoma or melanomas and a method for such treatment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Melanomas are caused generally by the exposure of skin to sunlight. Persons of fair complexion have the greatest risk especially those who develop moles.
Melanomas originate from a change in normal skin cells, melanocytes, which produce the brown pigment melanin we recognise as tan. Moles and freckles result from areas of the skin with many melanocytes.
The influence of light on melanocytes is one way by which they can be changed to grow and divide differently, possibly causing a melanoma. The melanomas may be malignant, spreading to other parts of the body. Melanomas which do not spread are called benign.
Although melanomas normally form on exposed skin they can start in places such as the mouth or bowel.
Melanomas grow in size and need to be surgically removed before they spread and invade other parts of the body. If the melanomas spread to the inner organs, removal and treatment is more difficult and chemotherapy or radiotherapy need to be employed.
It has been hypothesised that carotenoids and in particular beta-carotene may reduce the risk of breast, lung, colon, prostate and cervical cancer, heart disease and stroke and may retard macular degeneration. In this respect, one hypothesis is that in mammals beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A and vitamin A analogues or retinoids (see Moon RC: Comparative aspects of carotenoids and retinoids as chemopreventive agents for cancer. J Nutr 119:127-134, 1989). It is this pro-vitamin A activity and the ability to prevent oxidative damage that has made carotenoids and in particular beta-carotene a compound of interest in chemopreventive studies. For instance, anti-oxidants are used, amongst other things, to quench free radicals that are by-products of normal metabolism in cells.
Beta-carotene has also been used in the treatment of erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). EPP is a genetic disease causing an inadequacy in the metabolism of porphyrin compounds. It results in a rapid blistering of the skin on exposure to sunlight.
When considering the use of carotenoid compositions for human application an immediate difficulty arises as a result of the nature of carotenoids.
Carotenoids are lipophyllic and therefore not soluble in water in useful quantities. It is believed that they are transported in the bloodstream as low density lipoproteins.
The current principal means by which carotenoids are introduced into the body is orally. However, this method is often unsatisfactory because the poor absorption of the carotenoid composition by the alimentary canal limits the concentrations in the blood which can be achieved. Further, there will be a substantial delay before a required level of carotenoids in the bloodstream or a specific organ is reached. Sometimes the required level cannot be reached as certain individuals do not absorb carotenoids very well, especially beta-carotene. There is about a tenfold difference in the ability of human individuals to absorb ben-carotene. There have been over 500 carotenoids isolated, but only approximately 15 have been shown to occur in the bloodstream.
Physicians often seek to administer compounds by injection or by intravenous drip rather than oral ingestion. However, because of the virtual water insolubility of carotenoid compositions it is very difficult to administer them either by injection or intravenously. The compound must be made dispersible in an aqueous base so that it is available to the body's cells. In this regard, the base must be compatible with, for example, the bloodstream or lymph, and the material must be prepared in a biologically sterile form. The base must itself be non-toxic to the human cells.
To date several in vitro studies have taken place to determine the effect of beta-carotene on normal and transformed cell types using solvents to solubilise the beta-carotene such as tetrahydrofuran, butanol, chloroform, hexane, dimethylsulfo
REFERENCES:
patent: 5079016 (1992-01-01), Tood, Jr.
Azpuru Carlos A.
Betatene Limited
LandOfFree
Therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanomas does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanomas, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanomas will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2326680