Oligo-benzamide compounds and their use in treating cancers

1. A compound of formula (I or II):

wherein:

R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each independently optionally substituted C 1 -C 10 alkyl or C 1 -C 15 arylalkyl;

X is —NO 2 or —NRCOR′, wherein R′ is C1-C15 arylalkyl;

Y is —COOR 4 or —CONR 4 R 5 ;

R 4 and R 5 are independently selected from —H or C 1 -C 10 alkyl; and

A, A′ and A″ are independently —O—, —S—, —NR—, —(CH 2 )n-, —CO— wherein n may be any number between 1-6.

2. The compound of claim 1 , wherein X is —NO 2 .

3. The compound of claim 2 , wherein A, A′ and A″ are each O.

4. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is C 1-10 hydroxyalkyl.

5. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 1 is C 1 -C 15 arylalkyl.

6. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 2 is C 1-10 alkyl.

7. The compound of claim 1 , wherein R 3 is C 1-10 alkyl.

8. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound as shown in claim 1 , dispersed in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, buffer or diluent.

9. The compound of claim 4 , wherein R 1 is 2-hydroxyethyl.

10. The compound of claim 5 , wherein R 1 is 2-quinolylethyl.

11. The compound of claim 6 , wherein R 2 is butyl.

12. The compound of claim 6 , wherein R 2 is isobutyl.

13. The compound of claim 7 , wherein R 3 is isobutyl.

14. The compound of claim 1 , wherein X is —NHCOR′ wherein: R′ is C 1 -C 15 arylalkyl.

15. The compound of claim 1 , wherein Y is —COOH.

16. The compound of claim 1 , wherein Y is —CONHR 5 , wherein: R 5 is —H or C 1 -C 10 alkyl.

17. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is further defined as:

18. The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound is further defined as:

19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 , wherein the compound is further defined as:

20. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 , wherein the compound is further defined as: