Amino acid-benzoic acid oligomers and methods of use thereof for treating cancer

A compound having Formula I:

• wherein B is
• wherein Q is NH or is absent;
• wherein one of R1a or R1b is selected from —OR1, —SR1, —NR1R4, or —R1, and one of R1a or R1b is hydrogen;
• wherein each instance of R1 and R4 is independently selected from hydrogen or optionally substituted C1-15 alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl;
• wherein A is
• wherein each instance of R2 is independently selected from hydrogen or optionally substituted C1-15 alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl;
• wherein each instance of R3 independently is hydrogen or forms a C1-C6 alkyl bridge together with R2;
• wherein each carbon atom marked by * independently has L or D stereochemistry;
• wherein m is from 1 to 5;
• wherein W is selected from X-A and X;
• wherein X is selected from hydrogen, halogen, —NO2, —NRR′, —NRCOR′, —OR, —SR, —COR, —CO2R, —CONRR′, —R, and —CN;
• and
• wherein R and R′ are independently selected from hydrogen or optionally substituted C1-15 alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, alkenyl, and alkynyl;
• wherein Z is selected from B—Y and Y;
• wherein Y is selected from —R, —OR, —SR, and —NRR′;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.