Method for inhibiting neoplastic cells and related conditions by exposure to 2,9-disubstituted purin-6-ones

A method for regulating apoptosis sensitive to the compound of the formula in human cells comprising exposing said cell in need thereof to an effective amount of a compound of the formula:

• wherein R1 is selected from the group consisting of straight-chain or branched alkyl with 2 to 10 carbon atoms, which is optionally substituted by phenyl, which in turn may be substituted by halogen, nitro, cyano, or by straight-chain or branched alkyl with up to 6 carbon atoms;
• R2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, azido, or a straight-chain or branched alkyl with up to 6 carbon atoms, or a group with the formula —O—SO2R5;
• R5 is selected from the group consisting of a straight-chain or branched alkyl with up to 4 carbon atoms or phenyl;
• R3 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or R2 and R3 together form a group of the formula ═O;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or a straight-chain or branched alkyl with up to 4 carbon atoms;
• and
• A is selected from the group consisting of a moiety of the formula:
• or a straight-chain or branched alkyl with up to 20 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl with 3 to 7 carbon atoms, phenyl wherein said moiety, alkyl, cycloalkyl or phenyl groups are optionally substituted with one or two groups independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, carboxyl, trifluoromethyl, nitro, hydroxy, cyano, or straight-chain or branched alkyl, alkoxycarbonyl, or alkoxy, each with up to 5 carbon atoms, which in turn may be substituted by phenyl, said ring structures optionally substituted by phenyl, which in turn may be substituted by straight-chain or branched alkoxy with up to 5 carbon atoms;
• and their tautomers and salts.