Combinations of drugs (e.g., a benzimidazole and pentamidine) for the treatment of neoplastic disorders

Abstract

The invention features a method for treating a patient having a cancer or other neoplasm, by administering to the patient (i) a benzimidazole or a metabolite or analog thereof; and (ii) pentamidine or a metabolite or analog thereof simultaneously or within 14 days of each other in amounts sufficient to inhibit the growth of the neoplasm.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for treating a patient having a neoplasm or a person at risk for developing a neoplasm, said method comprising administering to said patient: 
 a) a first compound having the formula (I):                          wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of:                          R 2  is selected from the group consisting of:                          and each of R 3  and R 4  is selected from the group consisting of:                                            and    b) a second compound having the formula (II):                          wherein each of Y and Z is, independently, O or N; each of R 5  and R 6  is, independently, H, OH, Cl, Br, OCH 3 , OCF 3 , NO 2 , or NH 2 ; n is an integer between 2 and 6, inclusive; and each of R 7  and R 8  is, independently, at the meta or para position and is selected from the group consisting of:                          wherein said first and second compounds are administered simultaneously or within 14 days of each other in amounts sufficient to inhibit the growth of a neoplasm in said person.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second compounds are administered within ten days of each other.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said first and second compounds are administered within five days of each other.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said first and second compounds are administered within twenty-four hours of each other.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said neoplasm is cancer.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said cancer is selected from the group consisting of brain cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, kidney cancer, leukemia, liver cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, rectal cancer, sarcoma, skin cancer, testicular cancer, and uterine cancer.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is lung cancer.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein said lung cancer is selected from the group consisting of squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is breast cancer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is colon cancer.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is gastric cancer.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is kidney cancer.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is leukemia.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is liver cancer.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is lymphoma.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is prostate cancer.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is sarcoma.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is skin cancer.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is testicular cancer.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cancer is uterine cancer.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second compounds are administered to said patient by intravenous, intramuscular, inhalation, rectal, topical, or oral administration.  
     
     
         22 . A composition comprising a) a first compound having the formula (I):  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R 1  is selected from the group consisting of:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         R 2  is selected from the group consisting of:  
         
           
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
         
         and each of R 3  and R 4  is selected from the group consisting of:  
         
           
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
         
         and  
         b) a second compound having the formula (II):  
         
           
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
         
         wherein each of Y and Z is, independently, O or N; each of R 5  and R 6  is, independently, H, OH, Cl, Br, OCH 3 , OCF 3 , NO 2 , or NH 2 ; n is an integer between 2 and 6, inclusive; and each of R 7  and R 8  is, independently, at the meta or para position and is selected from the group consisting of: