4-SUBSTITUTED-1-(ARYLMETHYLIDENE)THIOSEMICARBAZIDE, 4-SUBSTITUTED-1-(ARYLCARBONYL)THIOSEMICARBAZIDE AND ANALOGS AS ACTIVATORS OF CASPASES AND INDUCERS OF APOPTOSIS AND THE USE THEREOF

摘要

The present invention is directed to optionally substituted 4-substituted-1-(arylmethylidene)thiosemicarbazide, 4-substituted-1-(arylcarbonyl)thiosemicarbazide and analogs thereof, represented by the Formulae (I) and (II), wherein A1, A2, Q and R1-R3 are defined herein. The present invention also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formulae (I) and (II) are activators o f caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers of apoptosis of this invention may be used to induce cell death in a variety of clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.