Abstract: Pharmaceutical compositions which are useful for the treatment of cancer or illnesses which arise due to an abnormally elevated cell proliferation comprise acyl derivatives of aromatic aldehydes, especially arylidene diesters and .alpha.-alkoxyarylidene esters of general formula (I).

Abstract: New compounds having the general formula I ##STR1## wherein L may be H or D; Y may be CN or ##STR2## wherein A may be H, D, alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms, OR wherein R is H or alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms, or CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and are H or alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms; Z is H, D, Y or alkyl with 1-4 C-atoms, halogen, nitro, amino, monoalkyl amino or dialkyl amino wherein the alkyl groups have 1-4 C atoms, or OR wherein R may be H or alkyl with 1-4 C-atoms, or CR.sub.4 R.sub.5 R.sub.6 wherein R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 may be the same or different and may be H or F; X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 may be the same or different and may be OR, NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 or SR, wherein R, R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and may be alkyl having 1-22 carbon atoms which may be branched or straight chained and/or may be further substituted; or X.sub.1 and X.sub.

Abstract: New compounds having the general formula I ##STR1## wherein Y may be H or D; and A is H, D, alkyl with 1-4 C-atoms, halogen, nitro, amino, monoalkyl amino or dialkyl amino wherein the alkyl groups have 1-4 C atoms or OR wherein R is H or alkyl of 1-4 C-atoms;X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 may together with the carbon atom to which they are bound form a cyclic acetal, thioacetal, dithiane, aminal, oxazolidine or thiazolidine;or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.The compounds are useful as anti-carcinoma agents.

Abstract: New compounds of formula I: ##STR1## wherein Y may be CN or ##STR2## wherein A may be H, D, alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms, OR wherein R is H or alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms, or --NR.sub.1 R.sub.2 or --CR.sub.1 R.sub.2 R.sub.3 wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are the same or different and are H or alkyl with 1-4 carbon atoms;Z is H, D, Y or alkyl with 1-4 C-atoms, halogen, nitro, amino, monoalkyl amino or dialkyl amino wherein the alkyl groups have 1-4 C atoms, or --OR wherein R may be H or alkyl with 1-4 C-atoms or --CR.sub.4, R.sub.5 R.sub.6 wherein R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 may be the same or different and may be H or F;and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,are useful as anti-cancer agents or as intermediates for preparing anti-cancer agents.

Abstract: The use of L-ascorbic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with 5,6-O-benzylidene-L-ascorbic acid, or 5,6-O-benzylidene-L-ascorbic acid deuterated at least at the 1-position of the aldehyde group of the benzylidene moiety, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of such acids, results in a synergistically enhanced cytotoxicity on human carcinoma cells.

Abstract: Anti-cancer platinum complexes such as cisplatin exhibit a synergistically higher level of anti-tumour activity when administered substantially simultaneously either with L-ascorbic acid, or with 5,6-O-benzylidene-L-ascorbic acid or deuterated forms thereof.

Abstract: Anti-cancer platinum complexes such as cisplatin exhibit a synergistically high level of anti-tumor activity when administered substantially simultaneously either with L-ascorbic acid, or with 5,6-O-benzylidene-L-ascorbic acid or deuterated forms thereof.

Abstract: The use of L-ascorbic acid, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, in combination with 5,6-O-benzylidene-L-ascorbic acid, or 5,6-O-benzylidene-L-ascorbic acid deuterated at least at the 1-position of the aldehyde group of the benzylidene moiety, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of such acids, results in a synergistically enhanced cytotoxicity on human carcinoma cells.

Abstract: Novel derivatives of pyrimid-2-one having interesting pharmacological properties are described. The compounds of the invention have been found to be of use in the control of, and in particular in the inhibition of the metaphase of malignant tumours and leukaemias. Processes for the preparation of the novel compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing them are also described.