Sigma Ligands For the Prevention or Treatment of Pain Induced by Chemotherapy
The invention refers to the use of a sigma ligand of formula (I) to prevent or treat pain induced by a chemotherapeutic agent, especially pain induced by taxanes, vinca alkaloids or platinum-containing chemotherapeutic drugs.
1 - 19 . (canceled)
20 . A method of treating a patient suffering from cancer, which comprises administering to the patient
i) a therapeutically effective amount of at least a chemotherapeutic drug which is a taxane, a drug derived from platinum, a vinca alkaloid, thalidomide or a derivative thereof; and
ii) an amount of 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which amount is effective to alleviate pain induced by the at least one chemotherapeutic drug when administered to the patient.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable salt is 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine hydrochloride.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the chemotherapeutic drug is a taxane.
23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the chemotherapeutic drug is a drug derived from platinum.
24 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the chemotherapeutic drug is a vinca alkaloid.
25 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the chemotherapeutic drug is vincristine.
26 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the chemotherapeutic drug is thalidomide or a derivative thereof.
27 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the subject is a mammal.
28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the mammal is human.
29 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the at least one chemotherapeutic drug are administered simultaneously.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the at least one chemotherapeutic drug are part of the same medicament formulation.
31 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the at least one chemotherapeutic drug are administered separately.
32 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and the at least one chemotherapeutic drug are administered sequentially.
33 . The method of claim 32 , wherein the 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered first followed by administration of the at least one chemotherapeutic drug.
34 . The method of claim 31 , wherein the 4-{2-[5-methyl-1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1H-pyrazol-3-yloxy]ethyl}morpholine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is administered curatively upon the onset of pain induced by the at least one chemotherapeutic drug.
35 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the pain induced by the at least one chemotherapeutic drug is selected from peripheral neuropathic pain, allodynia, causalgia, hyperalgesia, hyperesthesia, hyperpathia, neuralgia, neuritis and neuropathy.