Methods of treating cancer using a heat shock factor activity inhibitor

An inhibitor of heat shock factor activity comprising, as an active ingredient thereof, a compound represented by general formula (I):

• 18
• wherein X is —CH2— and R1 is C1-C2 alkyl, formyl, acetyl, hydrogen or halogen;
• or X is —(CH2)2— and R1 is C1-C3 alkyl, formyl, acetyl, hydrogen or halogen.

An expression suppressor for a substance encoded by a structural gene having a heat shock element sequence in the gene region for transcriptional regulation, the suppressor comprising, as an active ingredient thereof, a compound represented by general formula (I):

• 19
• wherein X is —CH2— and R1 is C1-C2 alkyl, formyl, acetyl, hydrogen or halogen;
• or X is —(CH2)2— and R1 is C1-C3 alkyl, formyl, acetyl, hydrogen or halogen.

A drug for treating or preventing a disease for which an inhibitory action on the heat shock factor activity, or suppressing action on the expression of a substance encoded by a structural gene having a heat shock element sequence in the gene region for transcriptional regulation is effective, the drug comprising, as an active ingredient thereof, a compound represented by general formula (I):

• 20
• wherein X is —CH2— and R1 is C1-C2 alkyl, formyl, acetyl, hydrogen or halogen:
• or X is —(CH2)2— and R1 is C1-C3 alkyl, formyl, acetyl, hydrogen or halogen.

A drug for treating or preventing a stress disease which exhibits an inhibitory action on the heat shock factor activity, or a suppressive action on the expression of a substance encoded by a structural gene having a heat shock element sequence in the gene region for transcriptional regulation.