The United States of America, As Represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

The University of Arizona

Thomas Joseph Sayers

Alan David Brooks

Curtis J Henrich

Leslie Gunatilaka

Poonam Tewary

Kithsiri Wijeratne

Kirk R Gustafson

James Brislin McMahon

Karen L Erickson

Nancy Lynn Booth

Ya-Ming Xu

Yaming Xu

Disclosed are compounds suitable for enhancing cancer treatment, for example, a compound of formula (I): (I) wherein Ris as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of enhancing the response of cancer cells in a mammal to treatment with an apoptosis inducing ligand, a method of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a mammal, and a method of treating prostate cancer in mammal in need thereof comprising administration of a compound described herein.

17-beta-hydroxywithanolides and use thereof in treating cancer

Disclosed is a method of enhancing the response of cancer cells in a mammal to treatment with an apoptosis inducing ligand, which method comprises contacting the cancer cells with an apoptosis inducing ligand in conjunction with an effective amount of a compound of the formula: (I), wherein R-Rare as described herein. Also disclosed is a method of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a mammal, comprising contacting the cancer cells with the compound described herein and also contacting the cancer cells with an apoptosis inducing ligand, whereby apoptosis is induced in the cancer cells. 

Method of sensitizing cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of apoptosis inducing ligands in cancer treatment

Disclosed is a method of enhancing the response of cancer cells in a mammal to treatment with a death receptor ligand, which method comprises contacting the cancer cells with a death receptor ligand in conjunction with an effective amount of a compound described herein, for example, a cucurbitacin (I) or a withanolide (II). Also disclosed is a method of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells in a mammal, comprising contacting the cancer cells with a compound described herein, for example, a cucurbitacin (I) or a withanolide (II) and also contacting the cancer cells with a death receptor ligand, whereby apoptosis is induced in the cancer cells. 

Method of sensitizing cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of death receptor ligands in cancer treatment

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Boonsboro, MD, United States of America

Thomas Joseph Sayers