Discalamide compounds and their use as anti-proliferative agents

A compound for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, said compound comprising administering to said cells an effective amount of a compound having one of the following structures, or an analog thereof:

• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or Δ4-28 or Δ18 or Δ21 or Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;or Δ4-28 and Δ18 or Δ4-28 and Δ21 or Δ4-28 and Δ23
• Δ18 and Δ21 or Δ18 and Δ23 or Δ21 and Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or Δ4-28, Δ18, Δ21 or Δ4-28, Δ18, Δ23 or Δ4-28, Δ21,
• Δ23 or Δ18, Δ21, Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, or —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocylic aryl.

A pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, said composition comprising a pharmaceutically-effective carrier and an effective amount of a compound having one of the following structures, or an analog thereof:

• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or Δ4-28 or Δ18 or Δ21 or Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or Δ4-28 and Δ18 or Δ4-28 and Δ21or Δ4-28 and Δ23
• Δ18 and Δ21 or Δ18 and Δ23 or Δ21 and Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or Δ4-28, Δ18, Δ21 or Δ4-28, Δ18, Δ23 or Δ4-28, Δ21,
• Δ23 or Δ18, Δ21, Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl.

A method for modulating an immune response in an animal, said method comprising administering to said animal an effective amount of a compound having one of the following structures, or an analog thereof:

• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or
• wherein
• R1=OX, R3=CH2OX where X=H,A, —CH2—Q, —COA or COZ
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or Δ4-28 or Δ18 or Δ21 or Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or Δ4-28 and Δ18 or Δ4-28 and Δ21 or Δ4-28 and Δ23
• Δ18 and Δ21 or Δ18 and Δ23 or Δ21 and Δ23
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl;
• or
• wherein
• R1=OX, where X=—A, —CH2—Q, —COA or —COZ
• R2=OA
• A=lower alkyl
• Q=phenyl, tolyl or xylyl
• Z=monocyclic aryl.