Potent inducers of terminal differentiation and method of use thereof

Abstract

The invention also concerns a method of selectively inducing terminal differentiation of neoplastic cells and thereby inhibiting proliferation of such cells which comprises contacting the cells under suitable condition with an amount of the compound effect to selectively induce terminal differentiation. Moreover, the invention provides a method of treating a patient having a tumor characterized by proliferation of neoplastic cells which comprises administering to the patient an amount of the compound effective to selectively induce terminal differentiation of such neoplastic cells, thereby inhibiting their proliferation and suppressing oncogenicity. Lastly, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and the compound in an amount effective less than an amount which would cause toxicity in the patient.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.