Methods and compositions are provided for prophylaxis and treatment of breast
cancer involving administration of a therapeutically effective amount of carbetocin
and/or other long-acting oxytocin analogues. 1-Butanoic acid-2-(O-methyl-L-tyrosine)-1-carbaoxytocin
(carbetocin) and/or other long-acting oxytocin analogues are formulated with a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and administered in an amount sufficient to
inhibit initiation or growth of breast cancer in the patient. The carbetocin and/or
other long-acting oxytocin analogues may also be formulated with a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier and administered in an amount sufficient to treat, prevent or
alleviate the symptoms of a psychiatric disorder in the patient. Carbetocin may
be administered prophylactically or to treat existing conditions in patients by
a variety of administration modes, including intramuscular, intravenous, intranasal,
intrapulmonary, subcutaneous, parenteral, oral, or transdermal delivery methods
and formulations. Preferably, the carbetocin is administered to a mucosal surface
of the patient via intranasal delivery. For this purpose, pharmaceutical compositions
are provided for intranasal delivery that incorporate carbetocin in a powder or
aqueous formulation for intranasal delivery.
