Death receptor sensitizing compounds and methods of use therefor

1. A method to enhance TNF-family death receptor ligand-mediated killing of tumor cells in a mammal, comprising administering to a mammal having TNF-family death receptor ligand-resistant cancer an effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

wherein,

R 1 is alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heterocyclene or cycloalkylene;

R a is F, Cl, Br or I;

R 9 is O or NR x ;

each R zz is independently O, NR x or S;

R 10 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl, amino, alkylamino, NR x R y or COOR x ; and

each R x and R y is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl or hydroxyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering an effective amount of a TNF-family death receptor ligand.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the compound and the ligand are administered at the same time.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the compound is administered before the ligand.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein the compound is administered after the ligand.

6. A method to inhibit TNF-family death receptor ligand-resistant cancer in a mammal, comprising identifying a mammal having TNF-family death receptor ligand-resistant cancer; and administering to the mammal an effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

wherein,

R 1 is alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heterocyclene or cycloalkylene;

R a is F, Cl, Br or I;

R 9 is O or NR x ;

each R zz is independently O, NR x or S;

R 10 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl, amino, alkylamino, NR x R y or COOR x ; and

each R x and R y is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl or hydroxyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising administering a TNF-family death receptor ligand.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the compound and the ligand are administered at the same time.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the compound is administered before the ligand.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the compound is administered after the ligand.

11. A method to sensitize prostate cancer, breast cancer or ovarian cancer cells that are resistant to TNF-family death receptor ligand-mediated killing comprising contacting the cells with an effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

wherein,

R 1 is alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heterocyclene or cycloalkylene;

R a is F, Cl, Br or I;

R 9 is O or NR x ;

each R zz is independently O, NR x or S;

R 10 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl, amino, alkylamino, NR x R y or COOR x ; and

each R x and R y is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl or hydroxyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the cells are contacted with the compound ex vivo.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising contacting the cells with an effective amount of a TNF-family death receptor ligand.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the cells are contacted with the compound and the ligand at the same time.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the cells are contacted with the compound before the cells are contacted with the ligand.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the cells are contacted with the compound after the cells are contacted with the ligand.

17. A method to inhibit metastases comprising administering to a mammal having TNF-family death receptor ligand-resistant cancer an effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

wherein,

R 1 is alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heterocyclene or cycloalkylene;

R a is F, Cl, Br or I;

R 9 is O or NR x ;

each R zz is independently O, NR x or S;

R 10 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl, amino, alkylamino, NR x R y or COOR x ; and

each R x and R y is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl or hydroxyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

18. A method to sensitize cells to anoikis, comprising administering to a mammal having TNF-family death receptor ligand-resistant cancer an effective amount of a compound of formula (I):

wherein,

R 1 is alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, heterocyclene or cycloalkylene;

R a is F, Cl, Br or I;

R 9 is O or NR x ;

each R zz is independently O, NR x or S;

R 10 is alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxy, halo, haloalkyl, hydroxy, hydroxyalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl, amino, alkylamino, NR x R y or COOR x ; and

each R x and R y is independently H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, cycloalkyl or hydroxyl;

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

19. The method of claim 1 , 6 , 11 , 17 or 18 wherein R a is Cl.

20. The method of claim 1 , 6 , 11 , 17 or 18 wherein R 9 is NR x .