SECO-STEROL COMPOUNDS, EFFECTIVE IN INDUCING CELL DIFFERENTIATION

摘要

A pharmaceutical composition for use in inducing cell differentiation of leukemia cells in a patient. The composition employs seco-sterol compounds which are similar in structure to known vitamin D compounds since they contain the identical ring structure or nucleus, but are different in that they contain a shortened side chain comprising a hydrogen, methyl, ethyl or propyl attached at the carbon 20 position. Functionally. the secosterols do not express the classic vitamin D calcemic activities in vivo. The seco-sterols thus may be administered to cause differentiation of malignant cells to normal cells without producing simultaneously unphysiologically high and deleterious blood calcium levels.