Apoptosis regulating composition

A method for treatment of cancer which is sensitive to said treatment which method comprises administering to a host afflicted with such cancer an anti-cancer effective amount of at least one carbostyril derivative or a salt thereof selected from the group consisting of:

• (1) a carbostyril derivative of the following general formula ##STR16## wherein R is a benzoyl group which may optionally have, on the phenyl ring thereof, one to three substituents each selected from the group consisting of a lower alkoxy group, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkanoylamino group and a lower alkylthio group;
• a lower alkylenedioxybenzoyl group;
• a hydrogen atom;
• a pyridylcarbonyl group;
• a lower alkanesulfonyl group;
• a lower alkynyl group;
• or a phenyl-lower alkyl group which may optionally have, on the phenyl ring thereof, one to three substituents each selected from the group consisting of a lower alkoxy group, a halogen atom and a lower alkyl group;
• the carbon-carbon bond between the 3 and 4 positions of the carbostyril skeleton is a single bond or a double bond;
• R.sup.20 is a hydrogen atom, a lower alkyl group, a lower alkenyl group, a lower alkynyl group or a phenyl-lower alkyl group;
• and R.sup.21 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkoxy group;
• provided that when both R.sup.20 and R.sup.21 are hydrogen atoms, R is not a benzoyl group having a lower alkoxy group as a phenyl ring substituent;
• and a salt thereof;
• (2) a carbostyril derivative of the following general formula ##STR17## wherein R.sup.1 is a group of the formula ##STR18## R.sup.3 is a hydrogen atom or a benzoyl group;
• R.sup.4 is an oxo group;
• and the carbon-carbon bond between the 3 and 4 positions of the carbostyril skeleton is a single bond or a double bond;
• and salts thereof;
• (3) a carbostyril derivative of the following general formula ##STR19## wherein R.sup.5 is a lower alkanoyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl-lower alkyl group, a phenyl-lower alkyl group having a lower alkanoyloxy group or a hydroxyl group on the phenyl ring thereof, or a benzoyl group which may optionally have, on the phenyl ring thereof, at least one substituent selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group and a amino group optionally having a lower alkyl group, or a naphthoyl group;
• and R.sup.6 is a benzoyl group which may optionally have at least one lower alkoxy group on the phenyl ring thereof;
• and a salt thereof;
• (4) a carbostyril derivative of the following general formula ##STR20## wherein R.sup.7 is a piperazinyl group, R.sup.8 is a hydrogen atom or a lower alkyl group;
• R.sup.5 is a hydrogen atom or a phenyl-lower alkyl group;
• and the carbon-carbon bond between the 3 and 4 positions of the carbostyril skeleton is a single bond or a double bond;
• and a salt thereof;
• (5) a carbostyril derivative of the following general formula ##STR21## wherein R.sup.22 is a C.sub.1 -.sub.16 alkyl group, a phenyl-lower alkoxycarbonyl-lower alkyl group, an amido-lower alkyl group which may optionally have at least one lower alkyl group, or a phenyl-lower alkyl group;
• and R.sup.23 is a piperazinyl group which may optionally have a lower alkyl group in the 4 position of the piperazine ring;
• and a salt thereof;
• (6) a carbostyril derivative of the following general formula ##STR22## wherein R.sup.24 is a hydrogen atom, a phenyl-lower alkyl group, a benzoyl-lower alkyl group, or a benzoyl group which may optionally have one to three of a lower alkoxy group or a lower alkylenedioxy group on the phenyl ring thereof;
• and a salt thereof;
• and
• (7) 6-›4-(3,4-dimethoxybenzoyl)-1-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropirazyl!-3,4-dihydrocarbos tyril and a salt thereof.