Anti-cancer composition comprising rhodacyanine compound and cyclodextrin

An anti-cancer composition for treating a cancer sensitive to a rhodacyanine compound represented by formula (II), wherein said anti-cancer composition comprises therapeutically effective amounts of

• (a) a rhodacyanine compound
• (13) a cyclodextrin, and
• (c) a solvent carrier, and
• wherein said rhodacyanine compound (a) is selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following Formula (II), the cation moiety of which has a log P value of 5-11, said cyclodextrin (b) is selected from the group consisting of .beta.-cyclodextrin, .gamma.-cyclodextrin, hydroxypropyl-.beta.-cyclodextrin and dihydroxy-propyl-.beta.-cyclodextrin and said solvent carrier (c) is water:
• ##STR130## wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents O, S, Se, ##STR131## Y.sub.1 represents O, S, Se, or ##STR132## R.sub.1 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group;
• R.sub.2 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group;
• Z.sub.2 represents an atomic group necessary to form a saturated or unsaturated 5- or 6-membered ring selected from the group consisting of a thiazole ring, a benzothiazole ring, a naphthothiazole ring, an oxazole ring, a benzoxazole ring, a naphthoxazole ring, a selenazole ring, a benzoselenazole ring, a thiazoline ring, a 2-pyridine ring, a 4pyridine ring, a 2-quinoline ring, a 4-quinoline ring, a 1-isoquinoline ring, a 3,3-dialkylindolenine ring, an imidazole ring, a benzimidazole ring and a naphthimidazole ring;
• L.sub.1, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3, which may be the same or different, each represents a methine group or a nitrogen atom and L.sub.1 and R.sub.3 may combine and form a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• R.sub.4 and R.sub.5, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group;
• R.sub.6 and R.sub.7, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group or an aryl group;
• R.sub.8 and R.sub.9, which may be the same or different, each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, or R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 may combine and form a fused 5- or 6-membered ring;
• Q represents a pharmaceutically acceptable anion;
• j and k, which may be the same or different, each represents 1 or 2;
• and
• n represents 0 or 1, wherein said amounts are effective to enhance the solubility of (a).

A method for treatment of cancer comprising administering, by injection, to a host afflicted with cancer, an anti-cancer composition for treating a cancer sensitive to a rhodacyanine compound represented by formula (I) below, wherein said anti-cancer composition comprises therapeutically effective amounts of

• (a) a rhodacyanine compound and
• (b) a cycledextrin, and
• wherein said rhodacyanine compound (a) is selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by the following Formula (I), the cation moiety of which has a log P value of 4.5-12:
• ##STR140## wherein X.sub.1 and X.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents O, S, Se, ##STR141## Y.sub.1 represents O, S, Se, or ##STR142## R.sub.1 and R.sub.3, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group;
• R.sub.2 represents an alkyl group, an aryl group or a heterocyclic group;
• Z.sub.1 and Z.sub.2, which may be the same or different, each represents an atomic group necessary to form a saturated or unsaturated 5- or 6-membered ring selected from the group consisting of a thiazole ring, a benzothiazole ring, a naphthothiazole ring, an oxazole ring, a benzoxazole ring, a naphthoxazole ring, a selenazole ring, a benzoselenazole ring, a thiazoline ring, a 2-pyridine ring, a 4-pyridine ring, a 2-quinoline ring, a 4-quinoline ring, a 1-isoquinoline ring, a 3,3-dialkylindolenine ring, an imidazole ring, a benzimidazole ring and a naphthimidazole ring;
• L.sub.1, L.sub.2 and L.sub.3 swhich may be the same or different, each represents a methine group or a nitrogen atom and L.sub.1 and R.sub.3 may combine and form a 5- or 6-membered ring;
• R.sub.4 and R.sub.5, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group;
• R.sub.6 and R.sub.7, which may be the same or different, each represents an alkyl group or an aryl group;
• Q represents a pharmaceutically acceptable anion;
• j and k, which may be the same or different, each represents 1 or 2;
• m and n, which may be the same or different, each represents 0 or 1, wherein said amounts are effective to enhance the solubility of (a).