Compositions and methods for increasing the sensitivity of apoptosis-resistant tumor cells to inducers of apoptosis

A method of reversing the resistance of an apoptosis-resistant cell, the method comprising administering a compound selected from the group of compounds consisting of the formula:

• 12
• wherein:
• R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 are independently H, CH═CH2, C1-C5 alkyl, C1-C4 alkyl-COOH, and C1-C4 alkyl-COOCH3, and wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 can be the same or different;
• X1, X2, X3, X4, and X5 are independently N, O or S, and wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, and X5 can be the same or different;
• and
• Halo is F, Cl, Br or I, and
• wherein the compound increases the sensitivity of the apoptosis-resistant cell to an apoptosis inducer.