Use of tellurium compounds for the treatment actinic keratosis

Abstract

Methods for treating skin conditions such as basal cell carcinoma and/or actinic keratosis are provided, which are effected by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of a tellurium-containing compound. A pharmaceutical composition for treatment of skin conditions such as basal cell carcinoma and/or actinic keratosis is also provided.

1 - 42 . (canceled) 
     
     
         43 . A method of treating basal cell carcinoma in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one tellurium-containing compound, wherein said at least one tellurium-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of tellurium dioxide (TeO 2 ), a complex of TeO 2 , a compound having general Formula I: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         a compound having general Formula II: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         a compound having general Formula III: 
       
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         and 
       
       a compound having general Formula IV: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein: 
       
       each of t, u and v is independently 0 or 1; 
       each of m and n is independently an integer from 0 to 3; 
       each of j and k is independently an integer from 0 to 4; 
       Y is selected from the group consisting of ammonium, phosphonium, potassium, sodium and lithium; 
       X is a halogen atom; and 
       each of R 1 -R 22  is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxy, thiohydroxy, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkoxy, thioalkoxy, halogen, haloalkyl, carboxy, carbonyl, alkylcarbonylalkyl, carboxyalkyl, acyl, amido, cyano, N-monoalkylamidoalkyl, N,N-dialkylamidoalkyl, cyanoalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, carbamyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalicyclic, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, sulfate, amine, aryl, heteroaryl, phosphate, phosphonate and sulfoneamido. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said tellurium-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of a compound having said general Formula I and a compound having said general Formula II. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein t, u and v are each 0. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein each of R 1 , R 8 , R 9  and R 10  is hydrogen. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein X is a halogen atom. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein X is chloro. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein Y is ammonium. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said tellurium-containing compound has said general Formula III. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein each of R 11 -R 14  is hydrogen. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said tellurium-containing compound has said general Formula IV. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein n and m are each 0. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein each of R 15 , R 18 , R 19  and R 22  is hydrogen. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said administering is effected topically. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said at least one tellurium-containing compound forms a part of a pharmaceutical composition, said pharmaceutical composition further comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a concentration of said at least one tellurium-containing compound of formula I, II or III ranges from about 0.01 weight percent to about 50 weight percents of the total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a concentration of said at least one tellurium-containing compound of formula IV ranges from about 0.02 weight percent to about 85 weight percents of the total weight of said composition. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said at least one tellurium-containing compound forms a part of a pharmaceutical composition designed for topical application and is being in a form selected from the group consisting of a cream, an ointment, a paste, a gel, a lotion, a milk, a suspension, a solution, an aerosol, a spray, a foam, a shampoo, a mousse, a serum, a swab, a pledget, a pad, a tincture, a patch and a soap. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises at least one additional active agent selected from the group consisting of an antineoplastic agent, an immunomodulator, an interferon and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said at least one tellurium containing compound is 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein X=Cl; t=u=v=0; R 1 =R 8 =R 9 =R 10 =H; Y + =NH 4   + . 
       
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said at least one tellurium containing compound is 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein m=n=0; R 15 =R 18 =R 19 =R 22 =H.