Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel nitrophenyl mustard and nitrophenylaziridine alcohols, to their corresponding phosphates, to their use as targeted cytotoxic agents; as bioreductive drugs in hypoxic tumours, and to their use in cell ablation, including gene-directed enzyme-prodrug therapy (GDEPT) and antibody-directed enzymeprodrug therapy (ADEPT), in conjunction with nitroreductase enzymes.

Abstract: Nitroaniline-based unsymmetrical mustards of the general formula (I) are provided, together with methods of preparation and methods for their use as prodrugs for gene-dependent enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) and cell ablation therapy in conjunction with nitroreductase enzymes as hypoxia selective cytotoxins and as anticancer agents.

Abstract: The invention provides processes of preparing 3-substituted 1-(chloromethyl)-1,2-dihydro-3H-[ring fused indol-5-yl(amine-derived)] compounds of formula (I) and its analogues, or a physiologically functional derivative thereof, (I), wherein A and B together may represent a fused optionally substituted benezene, naphthalene, pyridine, furan or a pyrrole ring, where the optional substituents are represented by Y; X is halogen or OSO2R, and W is selected from NO2, NHOH, N(R3)2NHR3, NHCO2R3, N(phthaloyl) or NH2, or W is further selected from the group (a), wherein J is selected from OH or R, and P is a group which is a substrate suitable for a nitroreductase or carboxypeptidase enzyme. The invention is also directed to the use of compounds of formula (I) prepared by the processes of the invention as cytotoxins for cancer therapy and as prodrugs for gene-directed enzyme-prodrug therapy (GDEPT) and antibody-directed enzyme-prodrug therapy (ADEPT).

Abstract: This invention relates to a class of heterocycles and their metal complexes, and is particularly concerned with the use of these compounds in the preparation of prodrugs or as prodrugs that may be activated under hypoxic conditions by enzymes or by therapeutic ionising radiation, in the treatment of cancer. The invention also relates to the use of these heterocycles and the corresponding metal complexes in the preparation of medicaments and to compositions including the heterocycles or their metal complexes and to methods for preparing these compounds.