Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether a cancer patient may respond to inhibition of RNA polymerase II as a treatment for the patient are provided. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II may be by way of chemotherapy with an agent such as triptolide, an analog of triptolide, or a prodrug form of triptolide. The cancer patient may be a pancreatic cancer patient, an ovarian cancer patient, a gastric cancer patient, or an esophageal cancer patient. The patient may have any cancer in which c-Myc is over-expressed or over-amplified.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining whether a cancer patient may respond to inhibition of RNA polymerase II as a treatment for the patient are provided. Inhibition of RNA polymerase II may be by way of chemotherapy with an agent such as triptolide, an analog of triptolide, or a prodrug form of triptolide. The cancer patient may be a pancreatic cancer patient, an ovarian cancer patient, a gastric cancer patient, or an esophageal cancer patient. The patient may have any cancer in which c-Myc is over-expressed or over-amplified.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound selected from compounds of formula (A) as ligand binding to the HDM2 protein, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, and having therapeutic utility in cancer therapy and prevention. Compounds of formula (A) can be used as therapeutics for treating stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemia, multi-organ failure, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's Disease, injury from ischemic events and heart valvular degenerative disease. Moreover, compounds of formula (A) can be used to decrease the side effects from cytotoxic cancer agents, radiation and to treat viral infections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound selected from compounds of formula I as ligand binding to the HDM2 protein, inducing apoptosis and inhibiting proliferation, and having therapeutic utility in cancer therapy. Compounds of formula (I) can be used as therapeutics for treating stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemia, multi-organ failure, spinal cord injury, Alzheimer's Disease, injury from ischemic events, heart valvular degenerative disease Moreover, compounds of formula (I) can be used to decrease the side effects from cytotoxic cancer agents and to treat viral infections.