Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nitro-1,2-dihydro-3H-benzo[e]indoles and related analogues, to their preparation, and to their use as hypoxia-selective drugs and radiosensitizers for cancer therapy, both alone or in combination with radiation and/or other anticancer drugs.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of preparing compounds of formula (II) wherein Z represents —OR1 or N(R2)R2a—, where R1 is lower alkylene (C1-C6), R2 is lower alkyl or H and R2a is lower alkylene (C1-C6) or H; Q is absent when R2a is H and is otherwise selected from the group consisting of H, —OH and protected forms of —OH; one of X and Y is halogen and the other is —OSO2R3, where R3 is selected from the group consisting of lower alkyl (C1-C6), phenyl and CH2phenyl. The method comprises the steps of: (a) reacting a compound of formula (I) with aziridineethanol or a 2-[(2-haloethyl)amino]ethanol in the presence of a metal halide, to form a compound of the formula (III) wherein one of X and E is halogen and the other is hydroxy, and (b) reacting the compound of formula (III) with an alkyl- or arylsulfonyl halide or alkyl- or arylsulfonyl anhydride to obtain a compound of the formula (II).

Abstract: The present invention relates to 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 enzyme-prodrug therapy (ADEPT), in conjunction with nitroreductase enzymes.

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 tumors, and to their use in cell ablation, including gene-directed enzyme-prodrug therapy (GPEPT) and antibody-directed enzymeprodrug therapy (ADEPT), in conjunction with nitroreductase enzymes.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to nitro-1,2-dihydro-3H-benzo[e]indoles and related analogues, to their preparation, and to their use as hypoxia-selective drugs and radiosensitizers for cancer therapy, both alone or in combination with radiation and/or other anticancer drugs.

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 H, 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 theraphy (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.

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.

Abstract: A range of aziridin-1-yl nitrobenzamides are provided for use as prodrugs in conjunction with nitroreductase (NR) enzymes. The amides may have 1 or 2-substituents which may be bulky and polar. For example, 5-(aziridin-1-yl)-N-[2-(4-morpholino)ethyl]-2,4-dinitrobenzamide of Formula (A) was found to be highly active against all NR+ cell lines tested.

Abstract: A compound which is a 6-substituted seco indoline of the formula (I): wherein: X is halogen or OSO2R where R represents H or C1-5 alkyl optionally substituted with from 1 to 4 hydroxyl, acid (COOH) or amino groups which amino may be optionally substituted by one or two C1-5 alkyl groups; Y is N02, N3, NHOH, NHR, NRR, N═NR, N(O)RR, SR or SSR, where R is defined as above, but that in the case where Y is SSR or N═NR, then R can also be another moiety of formula (I); or Y is a group of formula:

Abstract: A new treatment schedule for administration of N-?2-(dimethylamino)ethyl!acridine-4-carboxamide and other related carboxamide anticancer drugs in which the drug is administered in a divided-dose schedule comprising two or more administrations at frequent intervals, for example every hour. Schedules to produce cyclic peaks/troughs in plasma levels are mentioned. The compounds can be used for circumventing multidrug resistance in cancers and may, for example, be used in combination with other cytotoxic drugs, especially non-topo II inhibitors. Treatment of melanoma and advanced colon cancer is included.

Abstract: A new treatment schedule for administration of N-?2-(dimethylamino)ethyl!acridine-4-carboxamide and other related carboxamide anticancer drugs in which the drug is administered in a divided-dose schedule comprising two or more administrations at frequent intervals, for example every hour. Schedules to produce cyclic peaks/troughs in plasma levels are mentioned. The compounds can be used for circumventing multidrug resistance in cancers and may, for example, be used in combination with other cytotoxic drugs, especially non-topo II inhibitors. Treatment of melanoma and advanced colon cancer is included.