4-substituted-1- (arylmethylidene) thiosemicarbazide, 4-substituted-1- (arylcarbonyl) thiosemicarbazide and analogs as activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis and the use thereof

摘要

The present invention is directed to optionally substituted 4-substituted-1-(arylmethylidene)thiosemicarbazide, 4-substituted-1-(arylcarbonyl)thiosemicarbazide and analogs thereof, represented by the Formulae I and II: wherein A1, A2, Q and R1-R3 are defined herein. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formulae I and II are activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention may be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.