Substituted indolyl alkyl amino derivatives as novel inhibitors of histone deacetylase

A method of inhibiting tumor cell growth in a subject having ovarian cancer comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the compound of formula (I),

• an N-oxide form, pharmaceutically acceptable addition salt or stereo-chemically isomeric form thereof, wherein
• each n is an integer with value 0, 1 or 2 and when n is 0 then a direct bond is intended;
• each m is an integer with value 1 or 2;
• each X is independently N or CH;
• each Y is independently 0, S, or NR4;
• wherein
• each R4 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C3-6cycloalkyl, C3-6cycloalkylmethyl, phenylC1-6alkyl, —C(═O)—CHR5R6 or —S(═O)2—N(CH3)2;
• wherein
• each R5 and R6 is independently hydrogen, amino, C1-6alkyl or aminoC1-6alkyl;
• and
• when Y is NR4 and R2 is on the 7-position of the indolyl, then R2 and R4 together optionally form the bivalent radical
• —(CH2)2— (a-1), or
• —(CH2)3— (a-2);
• Ris hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylsulfonyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl or mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminosulfonyl;
• R2 is hydrogen, hydroxy, amino, halo, C1-6alkyl, cyano, C2-6alkenyl, polyhaloC1-6alkyl, nitro, phenyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylcarbonylamino, C1-6alkyloxy, or mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)amino;
• R3 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, or C1-6alkyloxy;
• and
• when R2 and R3 are on adjacent carbon atoms, they optionally form the bivalent radical
• —O—CH2—O—.