Methods and compositions for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Abstract

The level of the leukemic lymphocytes in patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is reduced by the administration of certain indole or carbazole compounds, such as the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug etodolac or related indole or carbazol compounds.

1 . A method for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in a patient, comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of an indole or carbazole derivative of the formula:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     in which R 1  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, alkoxyloweralkyl, lower cycloalkyl phenyl, benzyl and 2-thienyl; R 2  and R 3  are the same or different and are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; R 4  and R 5  are the same or different and are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, —NH 2 , —NHCHO, —NHCONH 2 , ═NW, oxo, —OH and —OCH 3 , wherein W is hydroxy, alkoxy, aryloxy, carboxyalkyloxy, arylamino or alkylsulfonylamino R 6  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkenyl, lower alkynyl, trifluoromethyl hydroxy, lower alkoxy, trifluoroloweralkoxy, benzyloxy, araloxy, lower alkanoyloxy, acyl, amino, nitro, cyano, alkylimido, halo, mercapto, loweralkylthio, alkylsulfinyl, alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfonamido and sulfamoyl; R 7  is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl and lower alkenyl; X is selected from the group consisting of carbon, oxy and thio; Y is selected from the group consisting of carbonyl,  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     in which each of R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11 , R 12  and R 13  is hydrogen or lower alkyl; and Z is selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, lower alkoxy, amino, lower alkylamino, dio(lower)alkylamino and phenylamino, 
 or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.  
 
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the indole or carbazole derivative is etodolac.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein about 1.0 mg to 500 mg of etodolac per kg of body weight of the patient per day is administered to the patient.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the etodolac is administered orally to the patient.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said therapeutically effective amount of the indole or carbazole compound is sufficient to reduce the level of leukemic lymphocytes in said patient.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said indole or carbazole compound is administered in the form of a pharmaceutical composition.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein said pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.  
   
   
       8 . The use of a compound of  claim 1  in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of chronic lyphocytic leukemia.