Methods for avoiding edema in the treatment or prevention of PPARγ-responsive diseases, including cancer

1. A method of treating edema in a subject with a PPARγ-responsive condition or disease, comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an edema-sparing PPARγ modulator wherein the modulator is a compound of Formula I:

wherein R is a member selected from the group consisting of a hydroxy, alkoxy, heteroalkoxy, aryloxy, heteroaryloxy, lower aralkoxy, di-lower alkylamino-lower alkoxy, lower alkanamido lower alkoxy, benzamido-lower alkoxy, ureido-lower alkoxy, N′-lower alkyl-ureido-lower alkoxy, carbamoyl-lower alkoxy, halophenoxy substituted lower alkoxy, carbamoyl substituted phenoxy, carbonyl-lower alkylamino, N,N-di-lower alkylamino-lower alkylamino, halo substituted lower alkylamino, hydroxy substituted lower alkylamino, lower alkanolyloxy substituted lower alkylamino, ureido, arylsulfonamido, alkylsulfonamido and lower alkoxycarbonylamino; and each X is independently a halogen;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is systemic.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is local.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is by the intravenous, oral, or rectal routes.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is topical.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition is osteoporosis.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition is inflammation or allergy.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition is eczema, acne vulgaris, or psoriasis.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the condition is cachexia, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, abdominal obesity, neurodegenerative disease, or retinopathy.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is human.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is human and the compound is administered as a (−) enantiomer which is substantially free of its (+) enantiomer.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the compound is halofenate.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the administering is chronic.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the subject has heart failure, congestive heart failure, or hypertension.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the compound is administered in an amount from 100 to 800 mg per day by the oral route.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the daily dosage is from about 200 mg to about 600 mg.