Inventors:
Candace Johnson - Pittsburgh PA, US
Donald Trump - Pittsburgh PA, US
Assignee:
University of Pittsburgh of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education - Pittsburgh PA
International Classification:
A61K033/24, A61K031/675, A61K031/704, A61K031/66, A61K031/56, A61K031/28
US Classification:
514/168000, 514/034000, 514/089000, 514/102000, 514/170000, 514/492000, 424/649000
Abstract:
This invention relates to combination chemotherapy, particularly involving vitamin D or a derivative thereof. In one aspect, the invention provides a method of killing a cell by first administering to the cell vitamin D (or a derivative) and subsequently administering to the cell a cytotoxic agent. Where this strategy is applied to an intact tumor, the present invention provides a method of retarding the growth of the tumor by first administering vitamin D (or a derivative) to the tumor and subsequently administering the cytotoxic agent. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method of treating prostate cancer within a patient by co-administration of vitamin D (or a derivative) and a glucocorticoid to the patient. In yet a further aspect, the invention provides an improved method of treating a patient with vitamin-D involving the adjunctive administration of zoledronate.