Farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor combinations with camptothecin compounds

[0001] The present invention is concerned with combinations of a farnesyl transferase inhibitor and a camptothecin compound for inhibiting the growth of tumor cells, and useful in the treatment of cancer.

[0002] Oncogenes frequently encode protein components of signal transduction pathways which lead to stimulation of cell growth and mitogenesis. Oncogene expression in cultured cells leads to cellular transformation, characterized by the ability of cells to grow in soft agar and the growth of cells as dense foci lacking the contact inhibition exhibited by non-transformed cells. Mutation and/or overexpression of certain oncogenes is frequently associated with human cancer. A particular group of oncogenes is known as ras which have been identified in mammals, birds, insects, mollusks, plants, fungi and yeasts. The family of mammalian ras oncogenes consists of three major members (“isoforms”): H-ras, K-ras and N-ras oncogenes. These ras oncogenes code for highly related proteins generically known as p21ras. Once attached to plasma membranes, the mutant or oncogenic forms of p21ras will provide a signal for the transformation and uncontrolled growth of malignant tumor cells. To acquire this transforming potential, the precursor of the p21ras oncoprotein must undergo an enzymatically catalyzed farnesylation of the cysteine residue located in a carboxyl-terminal tetrapeptide. Therefore, inhibitors of the enzyme that catalyzes this modification, farnesyl protein transferase, will prevent the membrane attachment of p21ras and block the aberrant growth of ras-transformed tumors. Hence, it is generally accepted in the art that farnesyl transferase inhibitors can be very useful as anticancer agents for tumors in which ras contributes to transformation.

[0003] Since mutated, oncogenic forms of ras are frequently found in many human cancers, most notably in more than 50% of colon and pancreatic carcinomas (Kohl et al., Science, vol 260, 1834-1837, 1993), it has been suggested that farnesyl tranferase inhibitors can be very useful against these types of cancer. Following further investigations, it has been found that a farnesyl transferase inhibitor is capable of demonstrating antiproliferative effects in vitro and antitumor effects in vivo in a variety of human tumor cell lines with and without ras gene mutations.

[0004] WO-97/21701 describes the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting (imidazoly-5-yl)methyl-2-quinolinone derivatives of formulas (I), (II) and (III), as well as intermediates of formula (II) and (III) that are metabolized in vivo to the compounds of formula (I). The compounds of formulas (I), (II) and (III) are represented by

[0005] the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

[0006] the dotted line represents an optional bond;

[0007] X is oxygen or sulfur;

[0008] R1 is hydrogen, C1-12alkyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, quinolinylC1-6alkyl, pyridylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk1—C(═O)—R9, —Alk1—S(O)—R9 or —Alk1—S(O)2—R9, wherein Alk1 is C1-6alkanediyl,

[0009] R9 is hydroxy, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, amino, C1-8alkylamino or C1-8alkylamino substituted with C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl;

[0010] R2, R3 and R16 each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyloxy, aminoC1-6alkyloxy, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyloxy, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, Ar2oxy, Ar2C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C2-6alkenyl, 4,4-dimethyloxazolyl; or

[0011] when on adjacent positions R2 and R3 taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (a-1),

—O—CH2—CH2—O— (a-2),

—O—CH═CH— (a-3),

—O—CH2—CH2— (a-4),

—O—CH2—CH2—CH2— (a-5), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (a-6);

[0012] R4 and R5 each independently are hydrogen, halo, Ar1, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl;

[0013] R6 and R7 each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, Ar2oxy, trihalomethyl, C1-6alkylthio, di(C1-6alkyl)amino, or

[0014] when on adjacent positions R6 and R7 taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (c-1), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (c-2);

[0015] R8 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylcarbonylC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, carboxyC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, imidazolyl, haloC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, aminocarbonylC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula

—O—R10 (b-1),

—S—R10 (b-2),

—N—R11R12 (b-3),

[0016] wherein R10 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, or a radical or formula —Alk2—OR13 or —Alk2—NR14R15;

[0017] R11 is hydrogen, C1-12alkyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0018] R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-16alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl-C1-6alkyl, a natural amino acid, Ar1carbonyl, Ar2C1-6alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C1-6alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkylcarbonyl, amino, C1-6alkylamino, C1-6alkylcarbonylamino, or a radical or formula —Alk2—OR13 or —Alk2—NR14R15;

[0019] wherein Alk2 is C1-6alkanediyl;

[0020] R13 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0021] R14 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0022] R15 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0023] R17 is hydrogen, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, Ar1;

[0024] R18 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or halo;

[0025] R19 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl;

[0026] Ar1 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C1-6alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C1-6alkyloxy or halo; and

[0027] Ar2 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C1-6alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C1-6alkyloxy or halo.

[0028] WO-97/16443 concerns the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting compounds of formula (IV), as well as intermediates of formula (V) and (VI) that are metabolized in vivo to the compounds of formula (IV). The compounds of formulas (IV), (V) and (VI) are represented by

[0029] the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

[0030] the dotted line represents an optional bond;

[0031] X is oxygen or sulfur;

[0032] R1 is hydrogen, C1-12alkyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, quinolinylC1-6alkyl, pyridylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk1—C(═O)—R9, —Alk1—S(O)—R9 or —Alk1—S(O)2—R9, wherein Alk1 is C1-6alkanediyl,

[0033] R9 is hydroxy, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, amino, C1-8alkylamino or C1-8alkylamino substituted with C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl;

[0034] R2 and R3 each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyloxy, aminoC1-6alkyloxy, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyloxy, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, Ar2oxy, Ar2C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C2-6alkenyl; or

[0035] when on adjacent positions R2 and R3 taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (a-1),

—O—CH2—CH2—O— (a-2),

—O—CH═CH— (a-3),

—O—CH2—CH2— (a-4),

—O—CH2—CH2—CH2— (a-5), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (a-6);

[0036] R4 and R5 each independently are hydrogen, Ar1, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl;

[0037] R6 and R7 each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or Ar2oxy;

[0038] R8 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylcarbonylC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, haloC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, aminocarbonylC1-6alkyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylthioC1-6alkyl;

[0039] R10 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or halo;

[0040] R11 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl;

[0041] Ar1 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C1-6alkyl,hydroxy,amino,C1-6alkyloxy or halo;

[0042] Ar2 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C1-6alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C1-6alkyloxy or halo.

[0043] WO-98/40383 concerns the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting compounds of formula (VII)

[0044] the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

[0045] the dotted line represents an optional bond;

[0046] X is oxygen or sulfur;

[0047] —A— is a bivalent radical of formula

—CH═CH— (a-1),

—CH2—CH2— (a-2),

—CH2—CH2—CH2— (a-3),

—CH2—O— (a-4),

—CH2—CH2—O— (a-5),

—CH2—S— (a-6),

—CH2—CH2—S— (a-7),

—CH═N— (a-8),

—N═N— (a-9), or

—CO—NH— (a-10);

[0048] wherein optionally one hydrogen atom may be replaced by C1-4alkyl or Ar1;

[0049] R1 and R2 each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C2-6alkenyl, C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, aminoC1-6alkyloxy, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyloxy, Ar2, Ar2—C1-6alkyl, Ar2-oxy, Ar2—C1-6alkyloxy; or when on adjacent positions R1 and R2 taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (b-1),

—O—CH2—CH2—O— (b-2),

—O—CH═CH— (b-3),

—O—CH2—CH2— (b-4),

—O—CH2—CH2—CH2— (b-5), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (b-6);

[0050] R3 and R4 each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, Ar3-oxy, C1-6alkylthio, di(C1-6alkyl)amino, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, or when on adjacent positions R3 and R4 taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (c-2),

—O—CH2—CH2—O— (c-2), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (c-3);

[0051] R5 is a radical of formula

[0052] wherein R13 is hydrogen, halo, Ar4, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, amino, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl;

[0053] R14 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl or di(C1-4alkyl)aminosulfonyl;

[0054] R6 is hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, C1-6alkyl, cyano, haloC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylthioC1-6alkyl, aminocarbonylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl-C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, Ar5, Ar5—C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl; or a radical of formula

—O—R7 (e-1),

—S—R7 (e-2),

—N—R8R9 (e-3),

[0055] wherein R7 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar6, Ar6—C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk—OR10 or —Alk—NR11R12;

[0056] R8 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, Ar7 or Ar7—C1-6alkyl;

[0057] R9 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar8, Ar8—C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl-C1-6alkyl, Ar8-carbonyl, Ar8—C1-6alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C1-6alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkylcarbonyl, amino, C1-6alkylamino, C1-6alkylcarbonylamino, or a radical or formula —Alk—OR10 or —Alk—NR11R12;

[0058] wherein Alk is C1-6alkanediyl;

[0059] R10 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, Ar9 or Ar9—C1-6alkyl;

[0060] R11 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar10 or Ar10—C1-6alkyl;

[0061] R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, Ar11 or Ar11—C1-6alkyl; and

[0062] Ar1 to Ar11 are each independently selected from phenyl; or phenyl substituted with halo, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl.

[0063] WO-98/49157 concerns the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting compounds of formula (VIII)

[0064] the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

[0065] the dotted line represents an optional bond;

[0066] X is oxygen or sulfur;

[0067] R1 and R2 each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C2-6alkenyl, C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, aminoC1-6alkyloxy, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyloxy, Ar1, Ar1C1-6alkyl, Ar1oxy or Ar1C1-6alkyloxy;

[0068] R3 and R4 each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, Ar1oxy, C1-6alkylthio, di(C1-6alkyl)amino, trihalomethyl or trihalomethoxy;

[0069] R5 is hydrogen, halo, C1-6alkyl, cyano, haloC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylthioC1-6alkyl, aminocarbonylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl-C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, Ar1, Ar1C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl; or a radical of formula

—O—R10 (a-1),

—S—R10 (a-2),

—N—R11R12 (a-3),

[0070] wherein R10 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar1, Ar1C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk—OR13 or —Alk—NR14R15;

[0071] R11 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, Ar1 or Ar1C1-6alkyl;

[0072] R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar1, Ar1C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl-C1-6alkyl, Ar1carbonyl, Ar1C1-6alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C1-6alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkylcarbonyl, amino, C1-6alkylamino, C1-6alkylcarbonylamino,

[0073] or a radical or formula —Alk—OR13 or —Alk—NR14R15;

[0074] wherein Alk is C1-6alkanediyl;

[0075] R13 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, Ar1 or Ar1C1-6alkyl;

[0076] R14 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, Ar1 or Ar1C1-6alkyl;

[0077] R15 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar1 or Ar1C1-6alkyl;

[0078] R6 is a radical of formula

[0079] wherein R16 is hydrogen, halo, Ar1, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, amino, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylthioC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl;

[0080] R17 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl or di(C1-4alkyl)aminosulfonyl;

[0081] R7 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl provided that the dotted line does not represent a bond;

[0082] R8 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl or Ar2CH2 or Het1CH2;

[0083] R9 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or halo; or

[0084] R8 and R9 taken together to form a bivalent radical of formula

—CH═CH— (c-1),

—CH2—CH2— (c-2),

—CH2—CH2—CH2— (c-3),

—CH2—O— (c-4), or

—CH2—CH2—O— (c-5);

[0085] Ar1 is phenyl; or phenyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents each independently selected from halo, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl;

[0086] Ar2 is phenyl; or phenyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents each independently selected from halo, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl; and

[0087] Het1 is pyridinyl; pyridinyl substituted with 1 or 2 substituents each independently selected from halo, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl.

[0088] WO-00/39082 concerns the preparation, formulation and pharmaceutical properties of farnesyl protein transferase inhibiting compounds of formula (IX)

[0089] or the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

[0090] ═X1—X2—X3— is a trivalent radical of formula

═N—CR6═CR7— (x-1),

═N—N═CR6— (x-2),

═N—NH—C(═O)— (x-3),

═N—N═N— (x-4),

═N—CR6═N— (x-5),

═CR6—CR7═CR8— (x-6),

═CR6—N═CR7— (x-7),

═CR6—NH—C(═O)— (x-8), or

═CR6—N═N— (x-9);

[0091] wherein each R6, R7 and R8 are independently hydrogen, C1-4alkyl, hydroxy, C1-4alkyloxy, aryloxy, C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxyC1-4alkyl, mono- or di(C1-4alkyl)aminoC1-4alkyl, cyano, amino, thio, C1-4alkylthio, arylthio or aryl;

[0092] >Y1—Y2— is a trivalent radical of formula

>CH—CHR9— (y-1),

>C═N— (y-2),

>CH—NR9— (y-3), or

>C═CR9— (y-4);

[0093] wherein each R9 independently is hydrogen, halo, halocarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, hydroxyC1-4alkyl, cyano, carboxyl, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxy, C1-4alkyloxyC1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl, mono- or di(C1-4alkyl)amino, mono- or di(C1-4alkyl)aminoC1-4alkyl, aryl;

[0094] r and s are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5;

[0095] t is 0, 1, 2 or 3;

[0096] each R1 and R2 are independently hydroxy, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C2-6alkenyl, C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, aminoC1-6alkyloxy, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)amino, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyloxy, aryl, arylC1-6alkyl, aryloxy or arylC1-6alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminocarbonyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl; or

[0097] two R1 or R2 substituents adjacent to one another on the phenyl ring may independently form together a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (a-1),

—O—CH2—CH2—O— (a-2),

—O═CH═CH— (a-3),

—O—CH2—CH2— (a-4),

—O—CH2—CH2—CH2— (a-5), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (a-6);

[0098] R3 is hydrogen, halo, C1-6alkyl, cyano, haloC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylthioC1-6alkyl, aminocarbonylC1-6alkyl, hydroxycarbonyl, hydroxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, aryl, arylC1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl;

[0099] or a radical of formula

—O—R10 (b-1),

—S—R10 (b-2),

—NR11R12 (b-3),

[0100] wherein R10 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, aryl, arylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk—OR13 or —Alk—NR14R15;

[0101] R11 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, aryl or arylC1-6alkyl;

[0102] R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, aryl, hydroxy, amino, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylcarbonylC1-6alkyl, arylC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonylamino, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)amino, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonyl, arylcarbonyl, haloC1-6alkylcarbonyl, arylC1-6alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminocarbonyl wherein the alkyl moiety may optionally be substituted by one or more substituents independently selected from aryl or C1-3alkyloxycarbonyl, aminocarbonylcarbonyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkylcarbonyl, or a radical or formula —Alk—OR13 or —Alk—NR14R15;

[0103] wherein Alk is C1-6alkanediyl;

[0104] R13 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, aryl or arylC1-6alkyl;

[0105] R14 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, aryl or arylC1-6alkyl;

[0106] R15 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, aryl or arylC1-6alkyl;

[0107] R4 is a radical of formula

[0108] wherein R16 is hydrogen, halo, aryl, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, amino, mono- or di(C1-4alkyl)amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylthioC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl;

[0109] R16 may also be bound to one of the nitrogen atoms in the imidazole ring of formula (c-1) or (c-2), in which case the meaning of R16 when bound to the nitrogen is limited to hydrogen, aryl, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl;

[0110] R17 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, arylC1-6alkyl, trifluoromethyl or di(C1-4alkyl)aminosulfonyl;

[0111] R5 is C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or halo;

[0112] aryl is phenyl, naphthalenyl or phenyl substituted with 1 or more substituents each independently selected from halo, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or trifluoromethyl.

[0113] The class of camptothecin compounds are related to or derived from the parent camptothecin compound which is a water-insoluble alkaloid derived from the Chinese tree Camptothecin acuminata and the Indian tree Nothapodytes foetida. Camptothecin has a potent inhibitory activity against biosynthesis of DNA and has shown high activity against tumor cell growth in various experimental systems. Its clinical use in anti-cancer therapy is however limited significantly by its high toxicity, and various analogues have been developed in attempts to reduce the toxicity of camptothecin while retaining the potency of its anti-tumor effect. Example of such analogues include irinotecan and topotecan. These compounds have been found to be specific inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase I. Topoisomerases are enzymes that are capable of altering DNA topology in eukaryotic cells. They are critical for important cellular functions and cell proliferation. There are two classes of topoisomerases in eukaryotic cells, namely type I and type II. Topoisomerase I is a monomeric enzyme of approximately 100,000 molecular weight. The enzyme binds to DNA and introduces a transient single-strand break, unwinds the double helix (or allows it to unwind) and subsequently reseals the break before dissociating from the DNA strand. Irinotecan, namely 7-ethyl-10-(4-(1-piperidino)-1-piperidino)carbonyloxy-(20S)-camptothecin, and its hydrochloride, also known as CPT 11, have been found to have improved potency and reduced toxicity and with superior water-solubility. Irinotecan has been found to have clinical efficacy in the treatment of various cancers especially colorectal cancer. Another important camptothecin compound is topotecan, namely (S)-9-dimethylaminomethyl-10-hydroxy-camptothecin which, in clinical trials has shown efficacy against several solid tumors, particularly ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung carcinoma.

[0114] Although camptothecin compounds have widely used as chemotherapeutic agents in humans, they are not therapeutically effective in all patients or against all types of tumors.

[0115] There is therefore a need to increase the inhibitory efficacy of camptothecin compounds against tumor growth and also to provide a means for the use of lower dosages of camptothecin compounds to reduce the potential of adverse toxic side effects to the patient.

[0116] It is an object of the invention to provide a therapeutic combination of a camptothecin compound and a farnesyl transferase inhibitor of the type described above which has an advantageous inhibitory effect against tumor cell growth, in comparison with the respective effects shown by the individual components of the combination.

[0117] According to the invention therefore we provide a combination of a camptothecin compound and a farnesyl transferase inhibitor of formula (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) above, in particular a compound of formula (I), (II) or (III):

[0118] the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, wherein

[0119] the dotted line represents an optional bond;

[0120] X is oxygen or sulfur;

[0121] R1 is hydrogen, C1-12alkyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, quinolinylC1-6alkyl, pyridylC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk1—C(═O)—R9, —Alk1—S(O)—R9 or —Alk1—S(O)2—R9, wherein Alk1 is C1-6alkanediyl,

[0122] R9 is hydroxy, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, amino, C1-8alkylamino or C1-8alkylamino substituted with C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl;

[0123] R2, R3 and R16 each independently are hydrogen, hydroxy, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyloxy, aminoC1-6alkyloxy, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyloxy, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, Ar2oxy, Ar2C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, trihalomethyl, trihalomethoxy, C2-6alkenyl, 4,4-dimethyloxazolyl; or

[0124] when on adjacent positions R2 and R3 taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (a-1),

—O—CH2—CH2—O— (a-2),

—O—CH═CH— (a-3),

—O—CH2—CH2— (a-4),

—O—CH2—CH2—CH2— (a-5), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (a-6);

[0125] R4 and R5 each independently are hydrogen, halo, Ar1, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkylthio, amino, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl or C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl;

[0126] R6 and R7 each independently are hydrogen, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, Ar2oxy, trihalomethyl, C1-6alkylthio, di(C1-6alkyl)amino, or

[0127] when on adjacent positions R6 and R7 taken together may form a bivalent radical of formula

—O—CH2—O— (c-1), or

—CH═CH—CH═CH— (c-2);

[0128] R8 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, cyano, hydroxycarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylcarbonylC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, carboxyC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, aminoC1-6alkyl, mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, imidazolyl, haloC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, aminocarbonylC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula

—O—R10 (b-1),

—S—R10 (b-2),

—N—R11R12 (b-3),

[0129] wherein R10 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, or a radical or formula —Alk2—OR13 or —Alk2—NR14R15;

[0130] R11 is hydrogen, C1-12alkyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0131] R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-16alkylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylaminocarbonyl, Ar1, Ar2C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonylC1-6alkyl, a natural amino acid, Ar1carbonyl, Ar2C1-6alkylcarbonyl, aminocarbonylcarbonyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C1-6alkyloxy, aminocarbonyl, di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkylcarbonyl, amino, C1-6alkylamino, C1-6alkylcarbonyl amino, or a radical or formula —Alk2—OR13 or —Alk2—NR14R15;

[0132] wherein Alk2 is C1-6alkanediyl;

[0133] R13 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0134] R14 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0135] R15 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, Ar1 or Ar2C1-6alkyl;

[0136] R17 is hydrogen, halo, cyano, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, Ar1;

[0137] R18 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy or halo;

[0138] R19 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl;

[0139] Ar1 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C1-6alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C1-6alkyloxy or halo; and

[0140] Ar2 is phenyl or phenyl substituted with C1-6alkyl, hydroxy, amino, C1-6alkyloxy or halo.

[0141] The above described combinations are hereinafter referred to as combinations according to the invention. These combinations may provide a synergistic effect whereby they demonstrate an advantageous therapeutic effect which is greater than that which would have been expected from the effects of the individual components of the combinations.

[0142] In Formulas (I), (II) and (III), R4 or R5 may also be bound to one of the nitrogen atoms in the imidazole ring. In that case the hydrogen on the nitrogen is replaced by R4 or R5 and the meaning of R4 and R5 when bound to the nitrogen is limited to hydrogen, Ar1, C1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl, C1-6alkylS(O)C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylS(O)2C1-6alkyl.

[0143] Preferably the substituent R18 is situated on the 5 or 7 position of the quinolinone moiety and substituent R19 is situated on the 8 position when R18 is on the 7-position.

[0144] Interesting compounds are these compounds of formula (I) wherein X is oxygen.

[0145] Also interesting compounds are these compounds of formula (I) wherein the dotted line represents a bond, so as to form a double bond.

[0146] Another group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk1—C(═O)—R9, wherein Alk1 is methylene and R9 is C1-8alkylamino substituted with C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl.

[0147] Still another group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R3 is hydrogen or halo; and R2 is halo, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C1-6alkyloxy, trihalomethoxy or hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy.

[0148] A further group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R2 and R3 are on adjacent positions and taken together to form a bivalent radical of formula (a-1), (a-2) or (a-3).

[0149] A still further group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R5 is hydrogen and R4 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl.

[0150] Yet another group of interesting compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R7 is hydrogen; and R6 is C1-6alkyl or halo, preferably chloro, especially 4-chloro.

[0151] A particular group of compounds are those compounds of formula (I) wherein R8 is hydrogen, hydroxy, haloC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, imidazolyl, or a radical of formula —NR11R12 wherein R11 is hydrogen or C1-12alkyl and R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, hydroxy, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl, or a radical of formula —Alk2—OR13 wherein R13 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl.

[0152] Preferred compounds are those compounds wherein R1 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkyl, di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkyl, or a radical of formula —Alk1—C(═O)—R9, wherein Alk1 is methylene and R9 is C1-8alkylamino substituted with C1-6alkyloxycarbonyl; R2 is halo, C1-6alkyl, C2-6alkenyl, C1-6alkyloxy, trihalomethoxy, hydroxyC1-6alkyloxy or Ar1; R3 is hydrogen; R4 is methyl bound to the nitrogen in 3-position of the imidazole; R5 is hydrogen; R6 is chloro; R7 is hydrogen; R8 is hydrogen, hydroxy, haloC1-6alkyl, hydroxyC1-6alkyl, cyanoC1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxycarbonylC1-6alkyl, imidazolyl, or a radical of formula —NR11R12 wherein R11 is hydrogen or C1-12alkyl and R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkyloxy, C1-6alkyloxyC1-6alkylcarbonyl, or a radical of formula —Alk2—OR13 wherein R13 is C1-6alkyl; R17 is hydrogen and R18 is hydrogen.

[0153] Most preferred compounds are

[0154] 4-(3-chlorophenyl)-6-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone,

[0155] 6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-ylmethyl]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone;

[0156] 6-[(4-chlorophenyl)hydroxy(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone;

[0157] 6-[(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone monohydrochloride.monohydrate;

[0158] 6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-ethoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone,

[0159] 6-amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-1-methyl-4-(3-propylphenyl)-2(1H)-quinolinone; a stereoisomeric form thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salt; and

[0160] (+)-6-[amino(4-chlorophenyl)(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)methyl]-4-(3-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-2(1H)-quinolinone (Compound 75 in Table 1 of the Experimental part of WO-97/21701); or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt thereof. The latter compound is especially preferred.

[0161] Further preferred embodiments of the present invention include compounds of formula (IX) wherein one or more of the following restrictions apply:

[0162] ═X1—X2—X3 is a trivalent radical of formula (x-1), (x-2), (x-3), (x-4) or (x-9) wherein each R6 independently is hydrogen, C1-4alkyl, C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl, amino or aryl and R7 is hydrogen;

[0163] >Y1—Y2— is a trivalent radical of formula (y-1), (y-2), (y-3), or (y-4) wherein each R9 independently is hydrogen, halo, carboxyl, C1-4alkyl or C1-4alkyloxycarbonyl;

[0164] r is 0, 1 or 2;

[0165] s is 0 or 1;

[0166] t is 0;

[0167] R1 is halo, C1-6alkyl or two R1 substituents ortho to one another on the phenyl ring may independently form together a bivalent radical of formula (a-1);

[0168] R2 is halo;

[0169] R3 is halo or a radical of formula (b-1) or (b-3) wherein

[0170] R10 is hydrogen or a radical of formula —Alk—OR13.

[0171] R11 is hydrogen;

[0172] R12 is hydrogen, C1-6alkyl, C1-6alkylcarbonyl, hydroxy, C1-6alkyloxy or mono- or di(C1-6alkyl)aminoC1-6alkylcarbonyl; Alk is C1-6alkanediyl and R13 is hydrogen;

[0173] R4 is a radical of formula (c-1) or (c-2) wherein

[0174] R16 is hydrogen, halo or mono- or di(C1-4alkyl)amino;

[0175] R17 is hydrogen or C1-6alkyl;

[0176] aryl is phenyl.

[0177] A particular group of compounds consists of those compounds of formula (IX) wherein ═X1—X2—X3 is a trivalent radical of formula (x-1), (x-2), (x-3) (x-4) or (x-9), >Y1-Y2 is a trivalent radical of formula (y-2), (y-3) or (y-4), r is 0 or 1, s is 1, t is 0, R1 is halo, C(1-4)alkyl or forms a bivalent radical of formula (a-1), R2 is halo or C1-4alkyl, R3 is hydrogen or a radical of formula (b-1) or (b-3), R4 is a radical of formula (c-1) or (c-2), R6 is hydrogen, C1-4alkyl or phenyl, R7 is hydrogen, R9 is hydrogen or C1-4alkyl, R10 is hydrogen or —Alk—OR13, R11 is hydrogen and R12 is hydrogen or C1-6alkylcarbonyl and R13 is hydrogen;

[0178] Preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (IX) wherein ═X1—X2—X3 is a trivalent radical of formula (x-1) or (x-4), >Y1-Y2 is a trivalent radical of formula (y-4), r is 0 or 1, s is 1, t is 0, R1 is halo, preferably chloro and most preferably 3-chloro, R2 is halo, preferably 4-chloro or 4-fluoro, R3 is hydrogen or a radical of formula (b-1) or (b-3), R4 is a radical of formula (c-1) or (c-2), R6 is hydrogen, R7 is hydrogen, R9 is hydrogen, R10 is hydrogen, R11 is hydrogen and R12 is hydrogen;

[0179] Other preferred compounds are those compounds of formula (IX) wherein ═X1—X2—X3 is a trivalent radical of formula (x-2), (x-3) or (x-4)>Y1-Y2 is a trivalent radical of formula (y-2), (y-3) or (y-4), r and s are 1, t is 0, R1 is halo, preferably chloro, and most preferably 3-chloro or R1 is C1-4alkyl, preferably 3-methyl, R2 is halo, preferably chloro, and most preferably 4-chloro, R3 is a radical of formula (b-1) or (b-3), R4 is a radical of formula (c-2), R6 is C1-4alkyl, R9 is hydrogen, R10 and R11 are hydrogen and R12 is hydrogen or hydroxy.

[0180] The most preferred compounds of formula (IX) are

[0181] 7-[(4-fluorophenyl)(1H-imidazol-1-yl)methyl]-5-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline;

[0182] α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-5-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-7-methanol;

[0183] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-7-methanol;

[0184] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]quinoline-7-methanamine;

[0185] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinoline-7-methanamine;

[0186] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]quinoline-7-methanol;

[0187] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinoline-7-methanamine;

[0188] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-7-methanol;

[0189] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,5-dihydro-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-7-methanol;

[0190] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-7-methanamine;

[0191] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-hydroxy-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)tetrahydro[1,5-a]quinoline-7-methanamine;

[0192] α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)-5-(3-methylphenyl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinoline-7-methanamine; the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts and the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof.

[0193] 5-(3-chlorophenyl)-α-(4-chlorophenyl)-α-(1-methyl-1H-imidazol-5-yl)tetrazolo[1,5-a]quinazoline-7-methanamine, especially the (−) enantiomer, and its pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts are especially preferred.

[0194] As used in the foregoing definitions and hereinafter halo defines fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo; C1-6alkyl defines straight and branched chained saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl and the like; C1-8alkyl encompasses the straight and branched chained saturated hydrocarbon radicals as defined in C1-6alkyl as well as the higher homologues thereof containing 7 or 8 carbon atoms such as, for example heptyl or octyl; C1-12alkyl again encompasses C1-8alkyl and the higher homologues thereof containing 9 to 12 carbon atoms, such as, for example, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl; C1-16alkyl again encompasses C1-12alkyl and the higher homologues thereof containing 13 to 16 carbon atoms, such as, for example, tridecyl, tetradecyl, pentedecyl and hexadecyl; C2-6alkenyl defines straight and branched chain hydrocarbon radicals containing one double bond and having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as, for example, ethenyl, 2-propenyl, 3-butenyl, 2-pentenyl, 3-pentenyl, 3-methyl-2-butenyl, and the like; C1-6alkanediyl defines bivalent straight and branched chained saturated hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, such as, for example, methylene, 1,2-ethanediyl, 1,3-propanediyl, 1,4-butanediyl, 1,5-pentanediyl, 1,6-hexanediyl and the branched isomers thereof. The term “C(═O)” refers to a carbonyl group, “S(O)” refers to a sulfoxide and “S(O)2” to a sulfon. The term “natural amino acid” refers to a natural amino acid that is bound via a covalent amide linkage formed by loss of a molecule of water between the carboxyl group of the amino acid and the amino group of the remainder of the molecule. Examples of natural amino acids are glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, methionine, proline, phenylanaline, tryptophan, serine, threonine, cysteine, tyrosine, asparagine, glutamine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine, histidine.

[0195] The pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts as mentioned hereinabove are meant to comprise the therapeutically active non-toxic acid and non-toxic base addition salt forms which the compounds of formulas (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) are able to form. The compounds of formulas (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) which have basic properties can be converted in their pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts by treating said base form with an appropriate acid. Appropriate acids comprise, for example, inorganic acids such as hydrohalic acids, e.g. hydrochloric or hydrobromic acid; sulfuric; nitric; phosphoric and the like acids; or organic acids such as, for example, acetic, propanoic, hydroxyacetic, lactic, pyruvic, oxalic, malonic, succinic (i.e. butanedioic acid), maleic, fumaric, malic, tartaric, citric, methanesulfonic, ethanesulfonic, benzenesulfonic, p-toluenesulfonic, cyclamic, salicylic, p-aminosalicylic, pamoic and the like acids.

[0196] The compounds of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) which have acidic properties may be converted in their pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts by treating said acid form with a suitable organic or inorganic base. Appropriate base salt forms comprise, for example, the ammonium salts, the alkali and earth alkaline metal salts, e.g. the lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium salts and the like, salts with organic bases, e.g. the benzathine, N-methyl-D-glucamine, hydrabamine salts, and salts with amino acids such as, for example, arginine, lysine and the like.

[0197] The terms acid or base addition salt also comprise the hydrates and the solvent addition forms which the compounds of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) are able to form. Examples of such forms are e.g. hydrates, alcoholates and the like.

[0198] The term stereochemically isomeric forms of compounds of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX), as used hereinbefore, defines all possible compounds made up of the same atoms bonded by the same sequence of bonds but having different three-dimensional structures which are not interchangeable, which the compounds of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) may possess. Unless otherwise mentioned or indicated, the chemical designation of a compound encompasses the mixture of all possible stereochemically isomeric forms which said compound may possess. Said mixture may contain all diastereomers and/or enantiomers of the basic molecular structure of said compound. All stereochemically isomeric forms of the compounds of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) both in pure form or in admixture with each other are intended to be embraced within the scope of the present invention.

[0199] Some of the compounds of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX) may also exist in their tautomeric forms. Such forms although not explicitly indicated in the above formula are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

[0200] Whenever used hereinafter, the term “compounds of formulae (I), (II), (III), (IV), (V), (VI), (VII), (VIII) or (IX)” is meant to include also the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts and all stereoisomeric forms.

[0201] Preferred camptothecin compounds for use in accordance with the invention include irinotecan and topotecan referred to above. Irinotecan is commercially available for example from Rhone-Poulenc Rorer under the trade name Campto and may be prepared for example as descibed in European patent specification No. 137145 or by processes analogous thereto. Topotecan is commercially available for example from SmithKline Beecham under the trade name Hycamtin and and may be prepared for example as descibed in European patent specification No. 321122 or by processes analogous thereto. Other camptothecin compounds may be prepared in conventional manner for example by processes analogous to those described above for irinotecan and topotecan.

[0202] The present invention also relates to combinations according to the invention for use in medical therapy for example for inhibiting the growth of tumor cells.

[0203] The present invention also relates to the use of combinations according to the invention for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting the growth of tumor cells.

[0204] The present invention also relates to a method of inhibiting the growth of tumor cells in a human subject which comprises administering to the subject an effective amount of a combination according to the invention.

[0205] This invention further provides a method for inhibiting the abnormal growth of cells, including transformed cells, by administering an effective amount of a combination according to the invention. Abnormal growth of cells refers to cell growth independent of normal regulatory mechanisms (e.g. loss of contact inhibition). This includes the abnormal growth of: (1) tumor cells (tumors) expressing an activated ras oncogene; (2) tumor cells in which the ras protein is activated as a result of oncogenic mutation of another gene; (3) benign and malignant cells of other proliferative diseases in which aberrant ras activation occurs. Furthermore, it has been suggested in literature that ras oncogenes not only contribute to the growth of of tumors in vivo by a direct effect on tumor cell growth but also indirectly, i.e. by facilitating tumor-induced angiogenesis (Rak. J. et al, Cancer Research, 55, 4575-4580, 1995). Hence, pharmacologically targetting mutant ras oncogenes could conceivably suppress solid tumor growth in vivo, in part, by inhibiting tumor-induced angiogenesis.

[0206] This invention also provides a method for inhibiting tumor growth by administering an effective amount of a combination according to the present invention, to a subject, e.g. a mammal (and more particularly a human) in need of such treatment. In particular, this invention provides a method for inhibiting the growth of tumors expressing an activated ras oncogene by the administration of an effective amount of combination according to the present invention. Examples of tumors which may be inhibited include, but are not limited to, lung cancer (e.g. adenocarcinoma and including non-small cell lung cancer), pancreatic cancers (e.g. pancreatic carcinoma such as, for example exocrine pancreatic carcinoma), colon cancers (e.g. colorectal carcinomas, such as, for example, colon adenocarcinoma and colon adenoma), hematopoietic tumors of lymphoid lineage (e.g. acute lymphocytic leukemia, B-cell lymphoma, Burkitt's lymphoma), myeloid leukemias (for example, acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)), thyroid follicular cancer, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), tumors of mesenchymal origin (e.g. fibrosarcomas and rhabdomyosarcomas), melanomas, teratocarcinomas, neuroblastomas, gliomas, benign tumor of the skin (e.g. keratoacanthomas), breast carcinoma (e.g. advanced breast cancer), kidney carninoma, ovary carcinoma, bladder carcinoma and epidermal carcinoma.

[0207] This invention also provides a method for inhibiting proliferative diseases, both benign and malignant, wherein ras proteins are aberrantly activated as a result of oncogenic mutation in genes, i.e. the ras gene itself is not activated by mutation to an oncogenic mutation to an oncogenic form, with said inhibition being accomplished by the administration of an effective amount of a combination according to the invention, to a subject in need of such a treatment. For example, the benign proliferative disorder neurofibromatosis, or tumors in which ras is activated due to mutation or overexpression of tyrosine kinase oncogenes may be inhibited by the combinations according to the invention.

[0208] The camptothecin compound and the farnesyl transferase inhibitor may be administered simultaneously (e.g. in separate or unitary compositions) or sequentially in either order. In the latter case, the two compounds will be administered within a period and in an amount and manner that is sufficient to ensure that an advantageous or synergistic effect is achieved. It will be appreciated that the preferred method and order of administration and the respective dosage amounts and regimes for each component of the combination will depend on the particular camptothecin compound and farnesyl transferase inhibitor being administered, their route of administration, the particular tumor being treated and the particular host being treated. The optimum method and order of administration and the dosage amounts and regime can be readily determined by those skilled in the art using conventional methods and in view of the information set out herein.

[0209] The farnesyl transferase inhibitor is advantageously administered in an effective amount of from 0.0001 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg body weight, and in particular from 0.001 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg body weight. More particularly, for an adult patient, the dosage is conveniently in the range of 50 to 500 mg bid, advantageously 100 to 400 mg bid and particularly 300 mg bid.

[0210] The camptothecin compound is advantageously administered in a dosage of 0.1 to 400 mg per square meter (mg/m2) of body surface area, for example 1 to 300 mg/m2, particularly for irinotecan in a dosage of about 100 to 350 mg/m2 and for topotecan in about 1 to 2 mg/m2 per course of treatment. These dosages may be administered for example once, twice or more per course of treatment, which may be repeated for example every 7, 14, 21 or 28 days.

[0211] It is especially preferred to administer the farnesyl tranferase inhibitor at a dosage of 100 or 200 mg bid for 7, 14, 21 or 28 days with a dosage of the camptothecin compound in the ranges indicated above.

[0212] In view of their useful pharmacological properties, the components of the combinations according to the invention, i.e. the camptothecin compound and the farnesyl transferase inhibitor may be formulated into various pharmaceutical forms for administration purposes. The components may formulated separately in individual pharmaceutical compositions or in a unitary pharmaceutical composition containing both components. Farnesyl protein transferase inhibitors can be prepared and formulated into pharmaceutical compositions by methods known in the art and in particular according to the methods described in the published patent specifications mentioned herein and incorporated by reference; for the compounds of formulae (I), (II) and (III) suitable examples can be found in WO-97/21701. Compounds of formulae (IV), (V), and (VI) can be prepared and formulated using methods described in WO 97/16443, compounds of formulae (VII) and (VIII) according to methods described in WO 98/40383 and WO 98/49157 and compounds of formula (IX) according to methods described in WO 00/39082 respectively.

[0213] The present invention therefore also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a camptothecin compound and a farnesyl tranferase inhibitor of formula (I) together with one or more pharmaceutical carriers. To prepare pharmaceutical compositions for use in accordance with the invention, an effective amount of a particular compound, in base or acid addition salt form, as the active ingredient is combined in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, which carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form of preparation desired for administration. These pharmaceutical compositions are desirably in unitary dosage form suitable, preferably, for administration orally, rectally, percutaneously, or by parenteral injection. For example, in preparing the compositions in oral dosage form, any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as, for example, water, glycols, oils, alcohols and the like in the case of oral liquid preparations such as suspensions, syrups, elixirs and solutions; or solid carriers such as starches, sugars, kaolin, lubricants, binders, disintegrating agents and the like in the case of powders, pills, capsules and tablets. Because of their ease in administration, tablets and capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form, in which case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. For parenteral compositions, the carrier will usually comprise sterile water, at least in large part, though other ingredients, to aid solubility for example, may be included. Injectable solutions, for example, may be prepared in which the carrier comprises saline solution, glucose solution or a mixture of saline and glucose solution. Injectable suspensions may also be prepared in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspending agents and the like may be employed. In the compositions suitable for percutaneous administration, the carrier optionally comprises a penetration enhancing agent and/or a suitable wetting agent, optionally combined with suitable additives of any nature in minor proportions, which additives do not cause a significant deleterious effect to the skin. Said additives may facilitate the administration to the skin and/or may be helpful for preparing the desired compositions. These compositions may be administered in various ways, e.g., as a transdermal patch, as a spot-on, as an ointment.

[0214] It is especially advantageous to formulate the aforementioned pharmaceutical compositions in dosage unit form for ease of administration and uniformity of dosage. Dosage unit form as used in the specification and claims herein refers to physically discrete units suitable as unitary dosages, each unit containing a predetermined quantity of active ingredient calculated to produce the desired therapeutic effect in association with the required pharmaceutical carrier. Examples of such dosage unit forms are tablets (including scored or coated tablets), capsules, pills, powder packets, wafers, injectable solutions or suspensions, teaspoonfuls, tablespoonfuls and the like, and segregated multiples thereof.

[0215] It may be appropriate to administer the required dose of each component of the combination as two, three, four or more sub-doses at appropriate intervals throughout the course of treatment Said sub-doses may be formulated as unit dosage forms, for example, in each case containing independently 0.01 to 500 mg, for example 0.1 to 200 mg and in particular 1 to 100 mg of each active ingredient per unit dosage form.

[0216] Experimental Testing of Combinations for Inhibition of Tumor Growth

[0217] The combinations according to the invention may be tested for their efficacy in inhibiting tumor growth using conventional assays described in the literature for example the HTB177 lung carcinoma described by Liu M et al, Cancer Research, Vol. 58, No.21, Nov. 1, 1998, pages 4947-4956, and the anti-mitotic assay described by Moasser M et al, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 95, pages 1369-1374, February 1998. Other in vitro and in vivo models for determining ant-tumor effects of combinations and possible synergy of the combinations according to the invention are described in WO 98/54966 and WO 98/32114. Clinical models for determining the efficacy and possible synergism for combination therapy in the clinic are generally described in Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology, Fifth Edition, edited by Vincent T DeVita, Jr., Samuel Hellman, Steven A. Rosenberg, Lippincott-Raven, Philadelphia, 1997, especially Chapter 17, pages 342-346.

Farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor combinations with camptothecin compounds

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