Use of 1H-indol-3-yl-2-oxoacetamide compounds

A method of treating cancer, the cancer being leukemia or colorectal cancer, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of the formula 1:

• wherein,
• R1 is isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, or 1,3-benzothiazolyl, each being optionally substituted with 1-6 independent R5;
• R2 is H;
• R3 is C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, C4-C10 cycloalkenyl, isoxazolyl, furanyl, thiophenyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, or pyridyl, each being optionally substituted with 1-4 independent R5;
• each R4 is independently H, NO2, halo, CN, R7, or OR7;
• each n is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4;
• each R5 is independently H, C1-C10 alkyl optionally substituted with 1-4 independent R6, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, aryl optionally substituted with 1-4 independent R6, heteroaryl optionally substituted with 1-4 independent R6, halo, or haloalkyl;
• each R6 is independently C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, halo, haloalkyl, CN, NO2, OR7, or SO2R7;
• and
• each R7 is independently H, C1-C10 alkyl, C2-C10 alkenyl, C2-C10 alkynyl, C3-C10 cycloalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl.