Abstract: Anthraquinone compounds of the general formula (I) or a salt thereof (Formula I) in which R1 to R4 are each selected from the group consisting of H, C1-4 alkyl, X1, —NHR0N (R5)2 in which R0 is a C1-12 alkanediyl and each R5 is H or optionally substituted C1-4 alkyl, and a group of formula (II) in which at least one of R6, R7 and R8 is selected from X2, and X2 substituted C1-4 alkyl and any others are H or C1-4 alkyl; R9 is selected from H, C1-4 alkyl, X2 and X2 substituted C1-4 alkyl; m is 0 or 1; n is 1 or 2; X1 is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1-6 alkoxyl group, an aryloxy group or an acyloxy group; and X2 is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1-6 alkoxyl group, an aryloxy group or an acyloxy group; provided that at least one of R1 to R4 is a group of formula (II). The N-oxides are useful prodrugs which are selectively bioreduced in hypoxic tumours to the corresponding cyclic amine derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to chemotherapeutic treatment of proliferative disorders, such as cancer. The invention more specifically relates to inhibition of pan-cell cycle progression with alkylating anthraquinones, which may inhibit mitotic commitment, lead to limited expression of G2 arrest and force cells to enter polyploidy via an aberrant mitosis. The methods of the invention are particularly useful in the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant cancers.