Compositions and Methods for Suppressing Endometrial Proliferation

Abstract

The subject matter of the instant invention is pertinent to the field of hormone therapy. More specifically, the subject matter of the instant invention concerns methods of treating estrogen-dependent conditions such as endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer in a female undergoing estrogen and/or selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) therapy. The instant invention is also relevant to the suppression of endometrial proliferation. The instant invention is also relevant to the treatment of pain associated with endometriosis. The compositions for practicing the methods, comprising progesterone antagonists are also disclosed. Embodiments of the instant invention also disclose methods for identifying new selective progesterone receptor modulators for practicing disclosed methods of treatment.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for treating chronic estrogen-dependent hyperproliferation of uterine tissue according to an intermittent administration regimen comprising administering to a human female in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a selective progesterone receptor modulator (SPRM) for an administration period during which the SPRM is administered daily consecutively over a period of from two to five months, then discontinuing said administration for a discontinuance period by means of a continual lack of treatment for a period of time sufficient for the female to undergo menstruation, said period of time being equal to or less than the number of days during which the SPRM was previously administered, then administering a therapeutically effective amount of an SPRM daily consecutively over a period of from two to five months, then discontinuing said administration by means of continual lack of treatment for a period of time sufficient for the female to undergo menstruation, said period of time being equal to or less than the number of days during which the compound was previously administered, and repeating this pattern of administration and discontinuance of administration for a sufficient duration to treat the chronic condition. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount of SPRM is from 2 mg to 80 mg. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SPRM is 21-methoxy-17α-acetoxy-11β-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the administration period is from about 4 months to about 5 months. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SPRM is 17α-acetoxy-11β-(4-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)-19-norpregna-4,9-diene-3,20-dione. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SPRM is asoprisnil (benzaldehyde-4-[(11β,17β)-17-methoxy-17-(methoxymethyl)-3-oxoestra-4,9-dien-11-yl]-1-oxime). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SPRM is mifepristone (11β-4-dimethylaminophenyl-17β-hydroxy-17α-propinyl-4,9-estradiene-3-one). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the female is administered a progestin in an amount effective to induce menstruation during the discontinuance period. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the female is administered a progestin selected from the group consisting of medroxyprogesterone, hydroxyprogesterone and progesterone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the discontinuation period is at least 32 days. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the SPRM is orally administered.