Aromatic carboxylic acid derivatives for treatment and prophylaxis of gastrointestinal diseases including colon cancers

A compound of one of the formulas:

• wherein:
• R is selected from the group consisting of —OH, —HNCH2CH2SO3H, —HNCH2CH2SO2N3, —HNCH2CH2SO2NHR6, —HNCH2CO2H and —HNCH(CO2H)CH2COOH;
• Z is selected from the group consisting of H, C1-6 alkyl (including cycloalkyl), alkenyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, heteroaryl, F, Cl, Br, I, —OR′, —NR′R″, —CF3, —CN, —NO2, —C2R′, —SR', —N3, —C(═O)NR′R″, —NR′C(═O)R″, —C(═O)R′, —C(═O)OR′, —OC(═O)R′, —OC(═O)NR′R″, —NR′C(═O)O R″, —SO2R′, —SO2NR′R″, and —NR′SO2R″,
• R′ and R″ are individually hydrogen, C1-6 alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocyclyl, aryl, or arylalkyl;
• J is selected from the group consisting of —SO3H, SO2N3, SO2NHR6, and CO2H;
• and
• R6 is H or C1-8 alkyl,
• and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and esters thereof.