Title:  Method for inhibition of photocarcinogenesis or photoimmunosuppression using niacin

United States Patent:  6,495,537

Issued:  December 17, 2002

Inventors:  Jacobson; Elaine L. (Tucson, AZ); Gensler; Helen L. (Tucson, AZ)

Assignee:  University of Kentucky Research Foundation (Lexington, KY)

Appl. No.:  452745

Filed:  December 1, 1999

The invention is directed to novel methods for the suppression of photocarcinogenesis and photoimmunosuppression in mice. The novel methods comprises the step of administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising niacin and a pharmaceutical carrier.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Ultraviolet irradiation can cause photocarcinogenesis and photoimmunosuppression in humans. Current methods of preventing photocarcinogenesis and photoimmunosuppression involve the use of sunblocks. Sunblock (i.e., sunscreen) refers to any chemical that when applied to the skin, reduces the amount of UV light that reaches the skin. By preventing UV absorptions, sunblocks can prevent photocarcinogenesis and photoimmunosuppression. Sunblocks were originally designed to prevent sunburn (also known as erythema), an acute reaction to overexposure to the sun. The strength of sunblocks is measured by the SPF index (Sun Protection Factor). An SPF value of 15, for example, will provide 15 times the protection of bare skin to sunburns. However, sunblocks are disadvantageous because they require frequent application to the skin. Further, every major class of sunblock has been linked to skin allergies.

To overcome the disadvantages of the current methods, experiments were performed to determine if niacin, administered orally, can decrease photoimmunosuppression and photocarcinogenesis.

One embodiment of the invention is directed to a method for reducing photocarcinogenesis or photoimmunosuppression in a subject. The subject can be any animal, such as a mammal. Preferably, the mammal is a human. In the method, a pharmaceutical composition comprising niacin in an amount effective to reduce photocarcinogenesis or photoimmunosuppression is administered orally to the subject. The method can reduce, eliminate, prevent or reverse photocarcinogenesis or photoimmunosuppression.

In a preferred embodiment, the administration comprises oral dosages of about 1 mg to about 100 mg per kilogram of subject weight. Preferably, the oral dosage is between about 10 mg to about 40 mg per kilogram of subject weight.

The niacin may be administered with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be any carrier known in the field as suitable for pharmaceutical oral application. Suitable pharmaceutical carriers and formulations are described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (19th ed.) (Genarro, ed. (1995) Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa.).

In addition, niacin and the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier may be enclosed in a hard or soft shell gelatin capsule, compressed into tablets, or incorporated directly into the individual's diet. Specifically, niacin may be incorporated with excipients and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. When niacin is administered orally, it may be mixed with other food forms and pharmaceutically acceptable flavor enhancers. When the niacin agent is administered enterally, they may be introduced in a solid, semi-solid, suspension, or emulsion form and may be compounded with any number of well-known, pharmaceutically acceptable additives. Sustained release oral delivery systems and/or enteric coatings for orally administered dosage forms are known in the art and also contemplated.

It is understood that the photocarcinogenesis or photoimmunosuppression referred to in this application may refer to any carcinogenesis or immunosuppression caused by light. The light may be, for example, from natural sources such as sunlight or from manmade sources such as a broad spectrum light source, a narrowband UV source, UVA source, UVB source, or UVC source.

Claim 1 of 10 Claims

We claim:

1. A method for inhibiting photocarcinogenesis or photoimmunosuppression in a subject comprising administering a pharmaceutical composition consisting essentially of niacin to a subject in need thereof wherein said niacin is in an amount effective to inhibit photocarcinogenesis or photoimmunosuppression in said subject.
 

____________________________________________
If you want to learn more about this patent, please go directly to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Web site to access the full patent.