Compounds for use in the treatment of cancer

1. A method for treatment of cancer selected from lymphoma, colorectal cancer and/or metastases thereof, and breast cancer and/or metastases thereof, in a human or non-human body, said method comprising administrating to said body a cancer-inhibiting amount of a first compound of Formula I:

or a physiologically acceptable salt thereof, wherein

X is CH or N,

each R 1 independently is hydrogen or —CH 2 COR 5 ;

R 5 is hydroxy, optionally hydroxylated alkoxy, amino or alkylamido;

each R 2 independently is a group ZYR 6 ;

Z is a bond, or a C 1-3 alkylene or oxoalkylene group optionally substituted by a group R 7 ;

Y is a bond, an oxygen atom or a group NR 6 ;

R 6 is a hydrogen atom, COOR 8 , an alkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkyl, aryl or aralkyl group optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from COOR 8 , CONR 8 2 , NR 8 2 , OR 8 , ═O, OP(O)(OR 8 )R 7 and OSO 3 M;

R 7 is hydroxy, an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl or aminoalkyl group;

R 8 is a hydrogen atom or an optionally hydroxylated, optionally alkoxylated alkyl group;

M is a hydrogen atom or one equivalent of a physiologically tolerable cation;

R 3 is a C 1-8 alkylene group, a 1,2-cykloalkylene group, or a 1,2-arylene group, optionally substituted with R 7 ; and

each R 4 independently is hydrogen or C 1-3 alkyl.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

R 5 is hydroxy, C 1-8 alkoxy, ethylene glycol, glycerol, amino or C 1-8 alkylamido;

Z is a bond or a group selected from CH 2 , (CH 2 ) 2 , CO, CH 2 CO, CH 2 CH 2 CO and CH 2 COCH 2 ;

Y is a bond;

R 6 is a mono- or poly(hydroxy or alkoxylated) alkyl group or a group of the formula OP(O) (OR 8 )R 7 ; and

R 7 is hydroxy, or an unsubstituted alkyl or aminoalkyl group.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein R 3 is ethylene and each group R 1 represents —CH 2 COR 5 in which R 5 is hydroxy.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first compound is N,N′-dipyridoxyl ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first compound is N,N′-bis-(pyridoxal-5-phosphate)-ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is colon cancer and/or metastases thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is breast cancer and/or metastases thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cancer is lymphoma,

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first compound is administered with a cyto-protective amount of a metal chelate of a compound of Formula I.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said metal chelate has a K a value in the range of from 10 8 to 10 24 .

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein said metal chelate has a lower K a value than the K a value of an iron (Fe 3+ ) chelate of a compound of Formula I, by a factor of at least 10 3 .

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the metal chelate is a manganese (Mn 2+ or Mn 3+ ) or copper (Cu + or Cu 2+ ) chelate.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first compound is N,N′-dipyridoxyl ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid and metal chelate is a metal chelate of N,N′-dipyridoxyl ethylenediainine-N,N′-diacetic acid.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first compound is N,N′-bis-(pyridoxal-5-phosphate)-ethylenediamine-N,N′-diacetic acid and the metal chelate is a metal chelate of N,N′-dipyridoxyl ethylenediamine-N,N′-diaretic acid.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first compound is administered together with one or more other anti-cancer drugs selected from the group consisting of doxorubicin, epirubicin, cisplatin, carboplatin, paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, cyclophosphamide, gemcitabine, irinotecan, and methotrexate.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first compound and the one or more other anti-cancer drug(s) are administered simultaneously, separately or sequentially to said patient.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first compound is administered in combination with radiation therapy.