Use of selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors for the treatment of endometriosis
The instant invention is directed to the use of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors to treat or prevent endometriosis; the use of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors to prevent, retard and/or reverse the development of endometriotic lesions in patients at risk for the development of such lesions; the use of cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors to reduce the number and/or severity of endometriotoc lesions in patients at risk for the development of such lesion; and the treatment of pain in such patients. Combination therapies are also encompassed.
1 . A method for treating or preventing endometriosis in a patient in need of such treatment or prevention, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient.
2 . A method for retarding the development of endometriotic lesions in a patient at risk of the developing said lesions, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
3 . A method for preventing the development of endometriotic lesions in a patient at risk of the developing said lesions, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
4 . A method for reversing the development of endometriotic lesions in a patient at risk of the developing said lesions, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
5 . A method for reducing number or severity of endometriotic lesions in a patient having said lesions, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
6 . A method for retarding the development of endometriotic lesions in a patient with endometriosis of a type amenable to hormonal therapy, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
7 . A method for preventing the development of endometriotic lesions in a patient with endometriosis of a type amenable to hormonal therapy, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
8 . A method for reversing the development of endometriotic lesions in a patient with endometriosis of a type amenable to hormonal therapy, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
9 . A method of inhibiting aromatase in a patient at risk of having endometriotic lesions, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
10 . A method of reducing elevated levels of aromatase in a patient at risk of having endometriotic lesions, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
11 . A method of reducing elevated levels of aromatase in a patient with post menapausal endometriosis, comprising the administration of an effective amount of a cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor to said patient, in accordance with claim 1 .
12 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of: rofecoxib, etoricoxib, celecoxib, valdecoxib, lumiracoxib, BMS347070, tiracoxib, ABT963, CS502 and GW406381.
13 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is rofecoxib.
14 . (canceled)
15 . (canceled)
16 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is etoricoxib.
17 . (canceled)
18 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is celecoxib.
19 . (canceled)
20 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is valdecoxib.
21 . (canceled)
22 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is concomitantly or sequentially co-administered with an oral contraceptive.
23 . The method according to claim 22 wherein the oral contraceptive is selected from the group consisting of: norethindrone, norethindrone acetate, chlormadione acetate, norethynodrel, norgestrel, medroxyprogesterone acetate, megestrol acetate, lynestrenol, quingestrone, ethynodiol acetate, and dimethisterone.
24 . The method according to claim 1 wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is administered perioperatively or as follow-up therapy to surgical removal of endometriotic implants.
25 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitor is concomitantly or sequentially co-administered with a GnRH agonist.
26 . The method according to claim 25 wherein the GnRH-agonist is selected from the group consisting of nafarelin acetate, leuprolide acetate, goserelin acetate, and buserelin acetate.