Method of inhibiting neoplastic cells with benzimidazole derivatives

A method of treating a mammal having precancerous lesions sensitive to the compounds of formula I comprising administering to said mammal a pharmacologically effective amount of a compound of formula I

• wherein
• R1 is selected from a group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted phenyl and benzyl wherein said substituents are one to three independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo- or cyano-substituted or unsubstituted phenyloxy or benzyloxy, lower haloalkyl, CN, amino, nitro, phenyl, thiadiazole, aryloxy, arylsulfonyl methyl, arylsulfonyl amino, benzoyl, benzylamidyl, benzenesulfonyl methyl, phenylethyl, and phenylethenyl, wherein said aryl group is selected from the group consisting of phenyl, benzyl and pyridyl;
• R2 is selected from a group consisting of lower alkyl, haloalkyl and lower alkoxy;
• R3 is selected from a group consisting of halo.