Abstract: The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction and particularly KDR/FLK-1 receptor signal transduction in order to regulate and/or modulate vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The invention is based, in part, on the demonstration that KDR/FLK-1 tyrosine kinase receptor expression is associated with endothelial cells and the identification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the high affinity ligand of FLK-1. These results indicate a major role for KDR/FLK-1 in the signaling system during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Engineering of host cells that express FLK-1 and the uses of expressed FLK-1 to evaluate and screen for drugs and analogs of VEGF involved in FLK-1 modulation by either agonist or antagonist activities is also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to organic molecules capable of modulating tyrosine kinase signal transduction and particularly KDR/FLK-1 receptor signal transduction in order to regulate and/or modulate vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. The invention is based, in part, on the demonstration that KDR/FLK-1 tyrosine kinase receptor expression is associated with endothelial cells and the identification of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as the high affinity ligand of FLK-1. These results indicate a major role for KDR/FLK-1 in the signaling system during vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Engineering of host cells that express FLK-1 and the uses of expressed FLK-1 to evaluate and screen for drugs and analogs of VEGF involved in FLK-1 modulation by either agonist or antagonist activities is also described.

Abstract: The present invention concerns compounds which can inhibit platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGF-R) activity, preferably such compounds also inhibit the activity other members of the PDGF-R super family and are selective for members of the PDGF-R super family. The PDGF-R super family includes PDGF-R and PDGF-R related kinases Flt, and KDR. The featured compounds are active on cell cultures to reduce the activity of the PDGF-R and preferably one or more PDGF-R related kinases. An example of a featured compound, A10 (see FIG. 1a), and its ability to inhibit growth of tumor cells in vivo is described below. Using the present application as guide other compounds able to inhibit PDGF-R and preferably Flt and/or KDR can be obtained. Such compounds are preferably used to treat patients suffering from cell proliferative disorders characterized by inappropriate PDGF-R activity.

Abstract: Method for treating a patient inflicted with a cell proliferation disorder, such as a cancer, characterized by inappropriate PDGF-R activity. The method involves the step of administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a composition described in application.

Abstract: Methods of inhibiting cell proliferation in a patient suffering from such disorder comprising the use of a styryl-substituted heteroaryl compound wherein the heteroaryl group is a monocyclic ring with 1 or 2 heteroatoms, or a bicyclic ring with 1 to about 4 heteroatoms, said compound optionally substituted or polysubstituted, with the proviso that when said ring is polysubstituted, the substituents do not have a common point of attachment to said ring, and those compounds wherein no substituent on the heteroaryl group is a carboxy group or an ester group, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting cell proliferation in a patient suffering from such disorder comprising the administration to the patient of a pharmaceutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition containing, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, of the formula ##STR1## wherein the radicals are defined in the specification.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting cell proliferation in a patient suffering from such disorder comprising administering to said patient an effective amount of a composition comprising, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is a substituted styrene compound which can also be a naphthalene, an indane or a benzoxazine; including nitrile and molononitrile compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising, in admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, a pharmaceutically-effective amount of such compound.

Abstract: Heteroarylethenediyl compounds wherein the heteroaryl group can be mono- or icyclic heteroaryl and the aryl group can be or mono- or bicyclic carbocyclic, said compound optionally substituted or polysubstituted, with the proviso that the heteroaryl group is not furyl or thienyl when the ethenediyl group has geminal cyano substituents, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds, and the use thereof for inhibiting a protein tyrosine kinase portion of a receptor selected from epidermal growth factor and platelet derived growth factor in a patient suffering from such disorder.