HYDROXAMIC ACID COMPOUNDS HAVING ANTICANCER AND ANTI-PARASITIC PROPERTIES

摘要

The invention provides a hydroxamate or hydroxamic acid compound of general formula (Ia) or (Ib): HONH-[linker]-X<1>R<1>R<2> or (Ic): R<1>R<2>X<1>-[linker]-X<1>R<1>R<2>, in which X<1> is a polar group selected from the group consisting of -C=O; -COR<1>; -CF2; -CNH2; -CNR<1>; -SO2-; -P(O)(OH)-; -C=S; -CSR<1>; -C-COR<1>; -C-CONR<1>R<2> and -C-CH2OH; R<1> and R<2> are the same or different, and each is independently selected from the group consisting of H; OH; NH2; NHOH; substituted or unsubstituted, branched or unbranched alkyl, alkenyl, alkylamino, alkyloxy or arylalkyloxy; substituted or unsubstituted aryl, aryloxy or pyridino; substituted or unsubstituted arylamino, piperidino, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylamino, pyridineamino, 9-purine-6-amine, and thiazoleamino; or either R<1> or R<2> is absent; and the linker is a group having a backbone of 5 to 9 atoms, which may comprise 1, 2 or 3 amino acids, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or derivative thereof. The compounds have the ability to selectively prevent the growth of a variety of human tumour cell types, without affecting growth of normal cells. The compounds of the invention also inhibit the growth of protozoan parasites.