Anti-cancer drugs, and uses relating for malignant melanoma and other cancers

A compound of formula (II) having a selenophene ring or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof:

• wherein:
• the notation represents a single bond or a double bond;
• X, Y and Z are independently selected from C and Se so as to form a selenophene ring, with the proviso that a double bond is either in between X and Y or in between Y and Z;
• R6 and R7 are either:
• a) independently selected from H, N═N—N(CH3)2, N═N—NHCH3, N═N—N(CH3)CH2OH, CONH2, CONHR8, CONR8R9, CONHNH2, CONHNHR8, CONHNR8R9, COOCH3, COOCH2CH3, COOH, COSH, CN, CECH, SO2NH2, SO2NHR8, SO2NR8R9, NO2, CF3, Cl, Br, F, CCl3, CH3, OH, OCH3, SH, SCH3, NH2, NHCH3, N(CH3)2, alkyl, alkenyl, electron withdrawing functional groups, and electron donating functional groups;
• or
• b) joined together to form an alicyclic, aromatic, or heterocyclic ring system which is fused to two adjacent carbon atoms in said selenophene ring;
• and
• R8 and R9 are independently selected from H, CH3, C1-C10 alkyl, alkenyl, alkylol, alkoxy, and alkylamine.

A method of treating a disease selected from the group consisting of melanoma, lung tumors, prostate tumors, colon cancer, and breast tumors in a warm blooded animal suffering from such disease, wherein said method comprises administering to the said warm blooded animal a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of:

• a) 4-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]-5-methylselenophene-2-carboxamide;
• b) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]selenophene-2,5-dicarboxamide;
• c) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]-5-phenylselenophene-2-carboxamide;
• d) 3-[(dimethylamino) diazenyl]-5-(tert-butyl) selenophene-2-carboxamide;
• e) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-b]selenophene-2-carboxamide;
• f) 3-[(dimethylamino) diazenyl]selenopheno [2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxamide
• g) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]-5-phenylselenophene-2-carboxylic acid;
• h) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]-5-(tert-butyl)selenophene-2-carboxylic acid;
• i) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-b]selenophene-2-carboxylic acid;
• j) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]selenopheno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid;
• k) 3-[(dimethylamino)diazenyl]-5-(tert-butyl)selenophene-2-carbonitrile;
• l) 3-methyl-6-phenylselenopheno[3,2-d]1,2,3-triazin-4-one;
• m) 6-(tert-butyl)-3-methylselenopheno[3,2-d]1,2,3-triazin-4-one;
• n) 3-methyl-6,7,8,9-tetrahydrobenzo[1,2-b]1,2,3-triazino[4,5-d]selenophen-4-one;
• o) 3-methyl-1,2,3-triazino[4′,5′-5,4]selenopheno[2,3-b]pyridine-4-one;
• and
• p) 3-methylbenzo[b]1,2,3-triazino[4,5-d]selenophen-4-one.