7-dehydrocholesterol derivatives and methods using same

1. A method of treating a cancer in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of formula (I) or a salt or solvate thereof:

wherein in (I):

R 1 is CR 5 or N;

R 3 is selected from the group consisting of —O(CR 5 ) n R 6 , —OC(—O)(CR 5 ) n R 6 , —OC(═O)(CR 5 ) n OR 5 , and —OC(═O)C(R 5 )═C(R 5 ) 2 ;

R 2 is selected from the group consisting of O, S, C(R 4 ) 2 , and N(R 4 );

each occurrence of R 4 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, substituted heteroarylalkyl, OR 5 , and N(R 5 ) 2 ;

each occurrence of R 5 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, alkenyl, substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, substituted alkynyl, aryl, substituted aryl, arylalkyl, substituted arylalkyl, heteroaryl, substituted heteroaryl, heteroarylalkyl, and substituted heteroarylalkyl;

R 6 is selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, mesyl, tosyl, —OSi(R 5 ) 3 , —C(═O)OR 5 , and —C(═O)R 5 ;

the dotted line is a single or double bond; and,

n is an integer ranging from 1 to 10,

wherein said cancer comprises ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, renal cancer, liver cancer, neuroblastoma, melanoma, medulloblastoma, pancreatic cancer, leukemia or a combination thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is the compound of formula (Ia), or a salt or solvate thereof:

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is the compound of formula (Ib), or a salt or solvate thereof:

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is N.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein R 2 is N(R 4 ).

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is the compound of formula (Ic), or a salt or solvate thereof:

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is the compound of formula (Id), or a salt or solvate thereof:

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of:

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is further administered at least one additional chemotherapeutic agent.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at least one agent is selected from the group consisting of alkylating agents; nitrosoureas; antimetabolites; antitumor antibiotics; plant alkyloids; taxanes; hormonal agents; anti-angiogenesis agents, bleomycin, hydroxyurea, L-asparaginase, and procarbazine.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the compound and the agent are separately administered to the subject.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the compound and the agent are coadministered to the subject.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is a mammal.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the mammal is a human.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound is administered to the subject by at least one route selected from the group consisting of intravenous, oral, inhalational, rectal, vaginal, transdermal, intranasal, buccal, sublingual, parenteral, intrathecal, intragastrical, ophthalmic, pulmonary and topical routes.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising procuring the compound of formula (I) for the subject.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compound of formula (I) is:

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is further administered radiation therapy.