Abstract: Multiple myeloma and other hematologic tumors and/or malignancies can be treated by administration of a G1 and/or S phase drug, which is preferably ?-lapachone, or a derivative or analog thereof, combined with a G2/M phase drug such as a taxane derivative, which is advantageously paclitaxel. This combination of the G1 and/or S phase drug with the G2/M phase drug results in an unexpectedly greater than additive (i.e., synergistic) apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells. The invention includes methods of treating multiple myeloma by administering the combination of the G1 and/or S phase drug and the G2/M phase drug, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the combination of drugs used in these methods, as well as pharmaceutical kits.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions and methods for cancer therapeutics. In particular, the present invention provides compositions and methods for inhibiting cancer metastasis by inhibiting cyclin A1.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules that include transcriptional regulatory sequences of the maspin gene are described. These nucleic acid molecules are useful for identifying compounds and proteins that alter expression of maspin in mammary cells and other cell types.

Abstract: We have discovered that the administration of a G1 and/or S phase drug such as ?-lapachone in combination with a G2/M drug such as a taxane derivative such as paclitaxel resulted in a unexpected greater than additive (i.e., synergistic) reduction in the number of tumors (and tumor volume) as compared with the administration of these agents alone. In addition, no signs of toxicity or weight loss were observed. The present invention relates to a method for treating a mammalian tumor using combinations such as a taxane derivative, preferably paclitaxel, and a ?-lapachone, or a derivative or analog thereof.

Abstract: We have now discovered that unexpectedly compounds of the following formulae I or 11 can be used to selectively stimulate the death of mammalian prostate cells, including both epithelial cell and prostate cancer cells, and thus are useful in treating prostate diseases: wherein R and R1 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, thio (SH), halogen, substituted and unsubstituted alkyl, substituted and unsubstituted alkenyl, substituted and unsubstituted aryl, and substituted and unsubstituted alkoxy, and salts thereof, wherein the dotted double bond between the ring carbons to which R and R1 are bonded represent an optional ring double bond. Preferred compounds of formula I include those in which at least one of the substituents R and R1 is hydrogen and/or at least one of said substituents is allyl. Specifically preferred compounds include &bgr;-lapachone (i.e., R and R1 both being hydrogen), allyl-&bgr;-lapachone, particularly 3-allyl-&bgr;-lapachone (i.e.