In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that PPAR&ggr; is expressed consistently in tissues associated with each of a variety of disease states which result from neoplastic cell proliferation. It has further been discovered that maximal activation of PPAR&ggr; with exogenous ligand promotes terminal differentiation of primary cells which are otherwise subject to neoplastic cell proliferation. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, it has been discovered that RXR-specific ligands are also potent agents for induction of differentiation of cells expressing the PPAR&ggr;/RXR&agr; heterodimer, and that simultaneous treatment of cells subject to neoplastic cell proliferation with a PPAR&ggr;-selective ligand, in combination with an RXR-specific ligand, results in an additive stimulation of differentiation. Thus, the effect of neoplastic cell proliferation can be ameliorated by treatment of cells undergoing neoplastic cell proliferation with PPAR&ggr; agonists, optionally in the further presence of RXR agonists, thereby blocking further proliferation thereof. Accordingly, compounds and compositions which are useful for the treatment of a variety of disease states which result from neoplastic cell proliferation have been identified and are described herein.
根据本发明,人们发现
PPAR&ggr; 在与肿瘤细胞增殖导致的各种疾病状态有关的组织中持续表达。本发明还进一步发现,
PPAR&ggr; 在外源性
配体的最大激活作用下,可促进原代细胞的终末分化,否则这些细胞就会受到肿瘤细胞增殖的影响。根据本发明的另一方面,发现 RXR 特异性
配体也是诱导表达
PPAR&ggr;/RXR&agr; 异二聚体的细胞分化的有效药物,而且用
PPAR&ggr;- 选择性
配体结合 RXR 特异性
配体同时处理受肿瘤性细胞增殖影响的细胞,会对分化产生叠加刺激作用。因此,用
PPAR&ggr;激动剂(可选择在 RXR 激动剂进一步存在的情况下)处理发生肿瘤细胞增殖的细胞,可以改善肿瘤细胞增殖的影响,从而阻止其进一步增殖。因此,已经发现并在此描述了可用于治疗由肿瘤细胞增殖引起的各种疾病状态的化合物和组合物。