EP1096929A1

EP1096929A1 - Therapeutic composition based on flavonoids for use in the treatment of tumours with cytotoxic agents

Info

Publication number: EP1096929A1
Application number: EP99929481A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Francis Univ. de Bruxelles Fac.Médecine DARRO; Robert Univ. de Bruxelles Fac. Médicine KISS; Armand Frydman
Original assignee: Laboratoire L Lafon SA
Current assignee: Cephalon France SAS
Priority date: 1998-07-15
Filing date: 1999-07-13
Publication date: 2001-05-09
Also published as: AU761417B2; FR2781154B1; CN1312712A; WO2000003707A1; CN1139383C; KR20020006510A; EA200100141A1; IL140580A0; FR2781154A1; BR9912817A; JP2002520357A; CA2337256A1; AU4628299A

Abstract

The invention concerns a composition having an activity on the proliferation of clonogenic cells in tumours and comprising a therapeutically efficient amount of an isoflavonoid or an analogous chromone compound, in particular a compound selected among the compounds of formula (I) wherein: R1, R2, R3 and R4 R5, and R6 are as defined in Claim 2. Said composition is designed for use in the treatment of tumours with cytotoxic agents.

Description

THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITION BASED ON ISOFLAVONOIDS

TO BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF TUMORS

BY CYTOTOXIC AGENTS

The present invention relates to the use of isoflavonoid type compounds in the treatment of cancers with cytotoxic agents.

Cancer is a disorder of the somatic genes in which genetic dysfunctions are amplified as the tumor process progresses from the precancerous lesion to that of malignant transformation, the cancerous tumor becoming metastatic and often resistant to drugs. cytotoxic.

Despite the considerable efforts made in all developed countries, in particular through experimental and clinical research programs, the mortality due to various cancers (solid tumors and hematological neoplasias) remains unacceptably high. In many countries, death from cancer is second only to cardiovascular disease.

In terms of newly diagnosed cancers, the distribution between solid tumors and hematological neoplasias (bone marrow, blood, lymphatic system) ^* shows that 9 out of 10 cancers are solid tumors. Contrary to what is observed in hematological oncology (therapeutic success in 40 to 90% of cancers of the blood cells), only a small number of solid tumors advanced or disseminated responds only to chemotherapeutic treatments. It is partly for this reason that overall cancer mortality increased in the USA between 1973 and 1992.

Unfortunately, it is not certain that this trend will be able to be reversed only by the appearance, alongside the established chemotherapeutic arsenal, of new antitumor drugs such as taxanes (paclitaxel and docetaxel) which interfere with the formation of microtubules ( WP Me Guire et al., Am. Intern. Med., 1989), topoisomerase I inhibitors derived from camptothecin (topotecan and irinotecan), vinorelbine (new alkaloid from periwinkle), gemeitabine (new cytotoxic antimetabolic) , raltitrexed (thymidylate synthetase inhibitor) and miltefosine (first representative of the family of alkylphosphocholines). These treatments are added, either first-line or second-line, to drugs whose specific activity is now well recognized such as doxorubicin, cisplatin, vincristine, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil.

One of the most difficult problems of cancer chemotherapy today is that many populations of malignant cells have significant resistance to established cytotoxic substances. Most often, this situation results from the existence of multi-resistance genes or from the frequency of genetic mutations in certain types of tumors. So treating cancer requires -new approaches, complementary to those currently implemented, and intended to better combat the extension and heterogeneity of the tumor load and the acquisition of "cytotoxic multi-drug" resistance.

Among these new approaches, some are already promising. This is the case with the induction of apoptosis, the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis and metastatic processes, not to mention gene therapy or immunotherapy.

The inventors are interested in a different approach. The objective sought was to make the population of tumor cells more sensitive to the benchmark anticancer treatments in order to achieve a double benefit: 1) increase the cytotoxic activity therefore the efficiency and

2) decrease the frequency and severity of certain side effects thanks to the reduction in dosage which could follow the induction of the increase in anti-tumor efficacy.

It is this strategy which is at the origin of the discovery of an original mechanism provoked by substances - with weak anti-tumor power or even devoid of this power - but capable of inducing a very significant increase in the cytotoxic activity of proven anti-cancer drugs. This original mechanism relates to the possibility for these substances, either to stimulate the recruitment of clonogenic cells within the tumor making it more sensitive to conventional treatment with cytotoxic agents, or to inhibit the proliferation of clonogenic cells, thus contributing regression of the tumor.

A subject of the present invention is therefore the use in the treatment of cancers with at least one antitumor chosen from cytotoxic agents, of a compound having an activity on the proliferation of clonogenic cells, chosen from isoflavonoids and analogous compounds of the type chromone and in particular the compounds of formula:

formula in which:

- RR ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are chosen independently of one another from H, OH, an aikoxy group in C ^ C, a group -OCOR ₇ , R ₇ being an alkyl group in 0, -0 ₄ , at least one of the substituents R _{1 (} R ₂ , R ₃ or R ₄ being other than H and R ₂ and R _{3 which} can together form a methylenedioxy group, R ₅ is chosen from H, OH, a C _r C ₄ aikoxy group, an O-glycosyl group, and a cyclohexyl group,

- R ₆ is chosen from a cyclohexyl group, a phenyl group and a phenyl group 1 to 3 times substituted by groups chosen from H, OH and an aikoxy group at 0, -0 ₄ , - and denotes either a double bond, or a simple bond.

A preferred class of compounds of formula I are those in which R _β is chosen from the phenyl, 4-hydroxyphenyl group and the 4- (0, -0 ₄ alkoxy) phenyl groups.

Cytotoxic agents can be used at their usual dose and in this case their effectiveness is improved, or at lower doses given the increase in their anti-tumor efficacy if the objective sought is first to improve tolerance from patient to treatment.

The subject of the present invention is also a composition having an activity on the proliferation of clonogenic cells by interfering with the generation of clonogenic cells, either by stimulation of proliferation and recruitment, or by inhibition of proliferation, comprising a therapeutically effective amount of an isoflavonoid or an analogous compound of the chromone type, and in particular of a compound chosen from the compounds of formula:

formula in which:

- R ,, R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are chosen independently of one another from H, OH, an aikoxy group at 0, -0 ₄ , a group -OCOR ₇ , R ₇ being an alkyl group in C, -C _4l at least one of the substituents R ,, R ₂ , R ₃ or R ₄ being other than H and R ₂ and R ₃ may together form a methylenedioxy group, - R _s is chosen from H, OH, a C 1 -C ₄ aikoxy group, an O-glycosyl group, and a cyclohexyl group,

- Rβ is chosen from a cyclohexyl group, a phenyl group and a phenyl group 1 to 3 times substituted with groups chosen from H, OH and a C 1 -C ₄ aikoxy group ₎

- e denotes either a double bond or a single bond. The present invention also relates to the use of an isoflavonoid, in particular of a compound of formula I as defined above, for the manufacture of a medicament intended to interfere (by induction or inhibition) with the generation of clonogenic cells in tumors when treated with at least one cytotoxic agent.

In the chemotherapeutic treatment of cancers with cytotoxic agents, isoflavonoids and in particular the compounds of formula I can be administered at the start of chemotherapeutic treatments either at once or over several days at the start of these treatments (for example for 5 to 7 days) and, depending on the chemotherapy protocol, at the start of each treatment cycle (for example for 2 to 5 days) during each course.

Isoflavonoids and in particular the compounds of formula I are advantageously administered by infusion (generally in 1 to 3 hours) at doses of 5 to 50 mg / kg / day or 200 to 2000 mg / m ² / day.

In order to obtain maximum effect on the production of clonogenic cells, isoflavonoids should be administered in such a way that the tissue concentrations obtained are the highest that can be envisaged. For treatment protocols in the acute phases of cures, the intravenous route is to be preferred using:

- ready-to-use infusion solutions (bags, vials, etc.) intended to be administered as such by intravenous infusion using an infusion line and at the recommended rate: - lyophilisates to be dissolved for intravenous infusion using pharmaceutical solutions known to those skilled in the art;

- for maintenance treatments, it is also possible to consider the oral route when the chemotherapy treatment favors the administration of oral cytostatics. To this end, lyocs (for oral or perlingual absorption), instant or delayed release tablets, oral solutions, suspensions, granules, capsules, etc. may be used.

The compounds of formula (I) are for the majority of compounds of natural origin or are derivatives of compounds of natural origin. As examples, we can cite: - genistein,

- biochanin A,

- daidzein,

- formononetin,

- 7-acetyl formononetine, - glycetein,

- orobol or 5,7,3 ', 4'-tetrahydroxy-isofIavone, - irizolone or 6,7-methylenedioxy 4'-hydroxy-isoflavone,

- irigenin or 3 ', 5,7-trihydroxy 4', 5 ', 6-methoxy-isoflavone,

- tectorigenin or 4 ′, 5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxy isoflavone,

- 2-hydroxy-8-methoxy-2,3-dihydro isoflavone, - 4 ', 7-dihydroxy-5-methoxy isoflavone.

Other usable isoflavones are described by Donnelly et al. in Natural Product Reports, 1995, 321, or can be prepared by the methods described in this article.

Cytotoxic agents can be chosen from: i) intercalating agents, in particular doxorubicin (Adriamycin), daunorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, zorubicin, aclarubicin, pirarubicin, acridin, mitoxanthrone, l actinomycin D, eptilinium acetate; ii) alkylating agents chosen from platinum derivatives (cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, etc.), iii) a compound chosen from other groups of alkylating agents:

- cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, chlormetrine, melphalan, chlorambucil, estramustine,

- busulfan, mitomycin C,

- nitrosoureas BCNU (carmustine), CCNU (lomustine), fotemustine, streptozotocin,

- triazenes or derivatives: procarbazine, dacarbazine,

- pipobroman,

- ethyleneimines: altretamine, triethylene-thiophosphoramide, iv) a compound chosen from other groups of anti-metabolic agents: - antifolics: methotrexate, raltitrexed,

- antipyrimides: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), cytarabine (Ara-C),

- hydroxyurea

- antipurics: purinethol, thioguanine, pentostatin, cladribine

- inducers of the synthesis of cytotoxic nucleosides: gemcitabine, v) a compound chosen from other groups of tubuloaffin agents:

- vinca-alkaloids disorganizing the mitotic spindle: vincristine, vinblastine, vindésine, navelbine

- agents blocking the depolymerization of the mitotic spindle: paclitaxel, docetaxel

- agents inducing DNA breaks by inhibition of topoisomerase II: etoposide, teniposide - topoisomerase I inhibitors inducing DNA cuts: topotecan, irinotecan, vi) a splitting agent, fragmenting DNA, such as bleomycin, vii) one of the following compounds; plicamycin, Asparaginase, mitoguazone, dacarbazine, viii) an anti-cancer progestin steroid: medroxy-progesterone, megestrol, ix) an anti-cancer estrogenic steroid: diethylstilbestrol; tetrasodium fosfestrol, x) an anti-estrogen: tamoxifen, droloxifene, raloxifene, amino-gluthetimide, xi) a steroid antiandrogen (ex cyproterone) or a nonsteroidal antiandrogen (flutamide, nilutamide).

In particular, the compounds of formula I can be combined with any treatment with major cytotoxic agents used in multidrug therapy for solid tumors such as: - doxorubicin

- oxazophorin alkylating agents (cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, chlorambucil, melphalan)

- nitrosoureas

- mitomycin C - anti-metabolites such as methotrexate, 5-FU, Ara-C, capecitabine

- agents that interfere with tubulin: vinca alkaloids (vincristine, vinblastine, vindesine, navelbine), taxoids (paclitaxel, docetaxel), epipodophyllotoxin derivatives (etoposide, teniposide)

- bleomycin - topoisomerase I inhibitors: topotecan, irinotecan.

Likewise, the compounds of formula I can be combined with treatment with the major cytotoxic agents used in oncohematology for the treatment of blood cancers:

- Hodgkin's disease: cyclophosphamide, mechlorethamine, chlorambucil, melphalan, ifosfamide, etoposide, doxorubicin, daunorubicin;

- acute leukemias: methotrexate, 6-mercaptopurine, cytarabine, vinblastine, vincristine, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, L-asparaginase;

- non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphomas mechlorethamine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, ifosfamide, methotrexate, cytarabine, vinblastine, vincristine, etoposide, doxorubicin, daunorubicin, carmustine, lomustine, cisplatin; - chronic lymphoid leukemias mechloretamine, chlorambucil, cyclophosphamide, melphalan, ifosfamide.

The results of pharmacological tests highlighting the effects obtained will be given below.

1 - Interaction (stimulation or inhibition of proliferation) with the generation of clonogenic cells (clonogenic test)

The test used is that described by Hamburger et al. (Science, 1977; 197, 461-463) and Salmon et al. (New England J. Med., 298, 1321-1327). A cell is considered clonogenic if it has the capacity to proliferate and to give rise to a cell colony. The “human tumor stem cells” or “human tumor stem cells” are the cells which are at the origin of the neoplastic cells which constitute a given tumor. These tumor stem cells are responsible for the recurrence processes observable after surgical resection of the primary tumors and are also responsible for the formation of metastases. At the level of a tumor or of a tumor cell line, these clonogenic stem cells differ from the other cells of the tumor or of the neoplastic cell line considered, by the fact that they retain their capacity to proliferate in the absence of any solid support.

In this test, the tumor cells are cultured on a semi-solid support constituted by agar. Only cells which do not require solid support for their growth (ie very tumorigenic cells called "anchorage-independent cells" by Ml Dawson et al., Cancer Res. 1995; 55: 4446-4451; also called clonogenic cells with reference to "clonal growth") are capable of growing on such an agar-based support. Indeed, on such a medium, normal cells - which are growing in "adherent mode"("anchorage-dependentcells" according to the terminology of Ml Dawson) - such as fibroblasts, do not survive. Within a tumor cell population, cultivated on such a support, it is these clonogenic cells (associated with an unlimited number of cell divisions and whose proliferation is called by Ml Dawson "anchorage- independent [clonal] growth") which are able to grow. The percentage of these clonogenic cells within a tumor or a cell line varies between 0.1% and 0.001%. Non-clonogenic cells (associated with a limited number of cell divisions) do not develop in this test because they require a solid support for their growth which must be done in "adherent mode"("anchorage-dependent [adhere] growth") , according to Ml Dawson et al., Cancer Res. 1995; 55: 4446-51). " The influence of compounds of formula (I) on the growth of cell colonies obtained by cultivating, for example, the mammary tumor lines MCF7 and MXT and the colorectal line HT-29 on the semi-liquid culture medium called "soft agar" has been measured. On such a medium, only the clonogenic cells called by Ml Dawson "anchorage-independent (clonal) cells" survive and develop. The growth of these cells in such a "non-adherent" mode attests to their degree of tumorigenicity.

The inhibition of the growth of the size of a tumor in which a greater number of clonogenic cells has grown then becomes the witness of an enhanced cytotoxic activity. Conversely, this test can also reveal that a compound is capable of inhibiting the generation / proliferation of clonogenic cells, which makes the tumor less able to grow, therefore decreases the population of tumor cells.

The tumor cell lines studied are maintained in culture in 25 cm ² falcon dishes. They are then trypsinized and the cells well dissociated from each other. The percentage of living cells is determined after staining with trypan blue. A cell suspension at a concentration of 5.10 ⁴ to 15.10 "cells / ml (depending on the cell type considered) is prepared in a 0.3% agar solution. Then 200 μl of this suspension are sown in petri dishes 35 mm in diameter, in which are deposited 3 ml of a base layer consisting of a 0.5% agar solution. The 200 μl of cell suspension are in turn covered with 1.8 ml of an upper layer consisting of a 0.3% agar solution. The dishes are then placed in an incubator at 37 ° C, 5% CO ₂ and 70% humidity until treatment. This is carried out approximately 1 to 2 hours after seeding. The test compounds are prepared at a concentration 100 times greater than the desired concentration and 50 μl of these treating solutions are deposited on the upper agar layer of the corresponding boxes. the final concentration of the tested products is 10 ^"5 , 10 ^{" 7} and 10 ^"9 M. The dishes are then kept for 21 days in the incubator. On the 21st day, the dishes are treated by depositing on the upper layer 100 μl of a solution of MTT (bromide of 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazoiinium) at 1 mg / ml prepared with RPMI 1640 medium for 3 h at 37 ° C. After this time, the cell colonies are fixed by adding 2 ml of formalin per dish. After 24 hours of fixation, the formalin is evaporated and the number of colored cell colonies, therefore made up of metabolically active cells, and whose surface is greater than 100 μm ² is determined using an inverted microscope. The average number of clonogenic cell clones determined for each experimental condition studied is expressed as a percentage relative to the average number of clonogenic cell clones counted in the control condition and set equal to 100%. These values, expressed as a percentage relative to the control condition, are recorded in Table I.

TABLE I

- The results summarized in this table represent the mean values + the standard error on the mean (ESM) established on at least 6 wells.

- Control condition = 100%

- (NS: p> 0.05; *: p <0.05; **: p <0.01; ***: p <0.001).

Depending on the cell line studied, genistein can:

- recruit clonogenic cells within the tumor (HT-29 cell lines at concentrations of 10 ^"5 M and 10 ^{" 7} , and MXT at concentrations of 10 ^'7 M and 10 ^"9 M), that is to say induce a significant increase in the number of colonies of these cells compared to that obtained under the control condition, and then makes these more sensitive to conventional treatment with cytotoxic agents, or

- be able to directly inhibit the proliferation of these clonogenic cells (MCF7 cell line at concentrations of 10 ^"5 M and 10 ^{" 7} M).

2 - Cytotoxic activity in non-clonogenic cells: "MTT test"

The influence of the compounds of formula (I) on non-clonogenic cells was evaluated using the MTT colorimetric test.

The principle of the MTT test is based on the mitochondrial reduction by the metabolically active living cells of the product MTT (bromide of 3- (4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl) -2.5 diphenyltetrazolium) yellow in color, a blue product, formazan. The quantity of formazan thus obtained is directly proportional to the quantity of living cells present in the culture well (s). This quantity of formazan is measured by spectrophotometry. The cell lines are maintained in monolayer culture at 37 ° C. in closed-cap culture dishes containing MEM 25 MM HEPES base medium.

(Minimum Essential Medium). This medium is well suited to the growth of a range of varied diploid, or primary, mammalian cells. This medium is then added: - with an amount of 5% of FCS (Fetal Calf Serum) decomplemented at 56 ° C for 1 hour,

- 0.6 mg / ml of L-glutamine,

- 200 lU / ml of penicillin,

- 200 μg / ml streptomycin, - 0.1 mg / ml gentamicin.

The 12 human cancer cell lines that were used were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockville, MD, USA). These 12 cell lines are:

- U-373MG (ATCC code: HTB-17) and U-87MG (ATCC code: HTB-14) which are two glioblastomas,

- SW1088 (ATCC code: HTB-12) which is an astrocytoma,

- A549 (ATCC code: CCL-185) and A-427 (ATCC code: HTB-53) which are two non-small cell lung cancers,

- HCT-15 (ATCC code: CCL-225) and LoVo (ATCC code: CCL-229) which are two colorectal cancers,

- T-47D (ATCC code: HTB-133) and MCF7 (ATCC code: HTB-22) which are two breast cancers,

- J82 (ATCC code: HTB-1) and T24 (ATCC code: HTB-4) which are two bladder cancers, - PC-3 (ATCC code: CRL-1435) which is prostate cancer.

At the experimental level: 100 μl of a cell suspension containing 20,000 to 50,000 (depending on the cell type used) cells / ml of culture medium are seeded in 96-well multi-well plates with a flat bottom and are incubated at 37 ° C, below atmosphere comprising 5% CO2 and 70% humidity. After 24 hours of incubation, the culture medium is replaced by 100 μl of fresh medium containing either the various compounds to be tested at concentrations varying from 10 -5 to 10 -10 M or the solvent used for setting solution of the products to be tested (control condition). After 72 hours of incubation under the previous conditions, the culture medium is replaced by 100 μl of a yellowish solution of MTT dissolved at a rate of 1 mg / ml in RPMI 1640. The microplates are incubated for 3 hours at 37 ° C then centrifuged for

10 minutes at 400 g. The yellowish solution of MTT is eliminated and the blue formazan crystals formed at the cellular level are dissolved in 100 μl of DMSO. The microplates are then stirred for 5 minutes. The intensity of the blue coloration therefore resulting from the transformation of the yellow MTT product into blue formazan by the cells still alive at the end of the experiment is quantified by spectrophotometry using a device of the DYNATECH IMMUNOASSAY SYSTEM type at the lengths d wave of 570 nm and 630 nm corresponding respectively to the wavelengths of maximum absorbance of formazan and to the background noise. Software integrated into the spectrophotometer calculates the average values of optical density as well as the values of standard deviation (Dev. Std.) And standard error on the mean (ESM).

By way of nonlimiting example, the results of the average optical density, expressed as a percentage relative to the average optical density measured in the control condition (posed equal to 100%), will be given in Table II, obtained with an isoflavonoid: genistein, on the 5 tumor cell lines U-87MG, J82, HCT-

15, T-47D and A549.

TABLE II

- xx ± yy = mean value ± standard error on the mean

- control condition = 100% - (NS: p> 0.05; *: p <0.05; ** p <0.01; ***: p <0.001).

Genistein has a weak anti-tumor power. This non-cytotoxic product induces, when this is the case, an inhibition of the overall cell proliferation of these lines only at the concentration of 10 ^"5 M and this inhibition does not exceed 20%. At the other concentrations tested, only a few marginal effects can be highlighted.

3. - Determination of the maximum tolerated dose (MTD):

The evaluation of the maximum tolerated dose was carried out in B6D2F1 / Jico mice aged 4 to 6 weeks. The compounds were administered intraperitoneally at increasing doses ranging from 2.5 to 160 mg / kg. The value of the DMT (expressed in mg / kg) is determined from the observation of the survival rate of the animals over a period of 14 days after a single administration of the product considered. The weight evolution of the animals is also monitored during this period. When the value of the DMT is greater than 160 mg / kg, the value of the DMT is assimilated to 160 mg / kg by default.

Genistein is associated by default with a DMT equal to 160 mg / kg. This result suggests that the products of the isoflavonoid family do not exhibit any toxicity. direct and can be used at high tissue concentrations, therefore at high dosages.

4. - In vivo antitumor activity in combination with a cytotoxic agent

The tests were carried out on the models of:

- Hormone-sensitive MXT murine mammary adenocarcinoma (MXT-HS),

- P 388 lymphoma, in the presence or absence of cytotoxic agents such as cyclophosphamide, etoposide, doxorubicin or vincristine.

When the DMT value of a product was determined, its antitumor activity in vivo was characterized at the doses of DMT / 2, DMT / 4 and DMT / 8 on the model of mammary adenocarcinoma of murine origin MXT-HS and on the model of P388 lymphoma. It is the dose which presented the best antitumor activity on these different models which was selected and used in the context of treatments combined with cytotoxics.

In all the examples presented below, whatever the model (MXT-HS mammary adenocarcinoma or P 388 lymphoma), the control condition is represented by a batch of 9 mice to which is administered for 5 consecutive weeks and at the rate of 5 administrations. (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) per week a volume of 0.2 ml of physiological saline containing the solvent used to dissolve the various compounds of formula (I) used.

During these tests, the following were determined:

0- the survival rate of mice.

This survival rate was calculated as a T / C ratio:

(Number of days (Mice (Number of dead mice surviving the middle mouse - in the days which have median of the treated batch) preceded that of the mouse treated mice) median treated)

T =

(Number of mice died on the same day as the median mouse treated) (Number of days (Mice (Number of mice dead from the median mouse in the days which have median of the treated batch) preceded that of the mouse control mouse) median treated)

C =

(Number of mice died on the same day as the median control mouse)

This ratio represents the average survival time of the median mouse in the batch of treated mice compared to the average survival time of the median mouse in the batch of control mice. Thus, a molecule induces a significant increase (P <0.05) in the survival of animals when the T / C index exceeds 130%. On the other hand, it has a toxic effect when this T / C value is less than 70%.

ii) - Tumor growth by measuring twice a week (Monday and Friday) the surface of grafted MXT-HS and P388 tumors. This area is calculated by taking the product of the value of the two largest perpendicular axes of the tumor. The value of these axes is measured using a caliper.

4.1. Murine breast adenocarcinoma (MXT-HS)

The model of hormone-sensitive murine mammary adenocarcinoma MXT (MXT-HS) grafted on B6D2F1 / Jlco mice aged from 4 to 6 weeks is a model derived from the milk ducts of the mammary gland (Watson C. et al. Cancer Res. 1977; 37: 3344- ^ 8).

By way of example, the results obtained using genistein will be given either alone or in combination with cytotoxic agents.

Treatment 1

Genistein is administered alone. The first injection of the product is carried out on the seventh day post-transplant (D7) for four consecutive weeks at a rate of 5 injections per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) and at a dose of 20 mg / kg.

Treatment 2 Cyclophosphamide (CPA) is given alone. The first injection of the product is made on the fourteenth day post-transplant (D14) for three consecutive weeks at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and at a dose of 10 mg / kg.

Treatment 3

Vincristine (VCR) is administered alone. The first injection of the product is made on the fourteenth day post-transplant (D14) for three consecutive weeks at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and at a dose of 0.63 mg / kg.

Treatment 4

Etoposide (ETO) is administered alone. The first injection of the product is made on the fourteenth day post-transplant (D14) for three consecutive weeks at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and at a dose of 10 mg / kg.

Treatment 5

Genistein is co-administered with cyclophosphamide. In this case, the first injection of genistein is carried out on the seventh day post-transplant (D7) for four consecutive weeks at the rate of 5 injections per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) at a dose of 20 mg / kg and the first injection of cyclophosphamide is given on the fourteenth day post-transplant (D14) for three consecutive weeks at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at a dose of 10 mg / kg.

Treatment 6

Genistein is co-administered with vincristine. In this case, the first injection of genistein is carried out on the seventh day post-transplant (D7) for four consecutive weeks at the rate of 5 injections per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) at a dose of 20 mg / kg and the first injection of vincristine is performed on the fourteenth day post-transplant (D14) for three consecutive weeks at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at a dose of 0.63 mg / kg.

Treatment 7

Genistein is co-administered with etoposide. In this case, the first injection of genistein is carried out on the seventh day post-transplant (D7) for four consecutive weeks at the rate of 5 injections per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) at a dose of 20 mg / kg and the first injection of etoposide is given on the fourteenth day post-transplant (D14) for three consecutive weeks at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) at a dose of 10 mg / kg.

The results obtained for the survival time (Table III) for genistein will be given below.

TABLE III

These results show that the co-administration of genistein with the cytotoxics: cyclophosphamide, vincristine or etoposide, significantly increases the average survival time of the middle mouse of the different batches of mice thus treated compared to the average survival time of the middle mouse of the batch of control mice. In addition, this increase in the average survival time of the median mouse of the different batches of mice treated with these co-administrations is significantly longer than that obtained with the treatments involving genistein or these cytotoxics used alone.

The study of tumor growth also highlighted the following results. In Table IV below, the decreases (-) or increases (+) in the area of MXT-HS tumors induced with the various Treatments 1 _r 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 with respect to the condition checker 28 ^èmβ day after tumor transplant or after 15 administrations of genistein and 6 administrations of different cytotoxic used or not in co-administration with the genistein. ^Èmβ to 28 days post-transplant, 89% of the control animals are still alive (or 8 animals out of 9).

These results show that the co-administration of genistein with the cytotoxic agents vincristine and etoposide significantly induces a decrease in the growth of MXT-HS tumors greater than that induced by treatments involving genistein alone (which has no 'relevant clinical effect) or the latter two cytotoxics used alone.

4.2.Lymphone P 388:

CDF1 mice aged 4 to 6 weeks are grafted with a piece of tumor P388 (from a tumor bank maintained in the laboratory) subcutaneously in the right flank on day D0. In order to place ourselves in a situation close to clinical reality, we wait ^until the 5th day post-transplant (D5) before starting treatment: This is because, after this period of time, P388 subcutaneous tumors are palpable.

By way of example, the results obtained with genistein alone or in combination with vincrinstine are reported below. Treatment 1

Genistein is administered alone. The first injection of the product is made on the fifth day post-transplant (D5) at the rate of 5 injections per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) for five consecutive weeks and at a dose of 40 mg / kg.

Treatment 2

Vincristine (VCR) is administered alone. The first injection of the product is made on the fifth day post-transplant (D5) at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) for three consecutive weeks and at a dose of 0.63 mg / kg.

Treatment 3 Genistein is co-administered with vincristine. In this case, the first injection of genistein is carried out on the fifth day post-transplant (D5) at the rate of 5 injections per week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) for five consecutive weeks at a dose of 40 mg / kg and the first injection of vincristine is given on the fifth day post-transplant (D5) at the rate of 3 injections per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) for three consecutive weeks at a dose of 0.63 mg / kg.

Below in Table V are presented the results obtained with treatments 1, 2 and 3 on the survival time of the mice.

Table V

These results show that the co-administration of genistein with vincristine very significantly increases the average survival time of the median mouse of the different batches of mice thus treated compared to the average survival time of the median mouse of the batch of mouse controls. In addition, this increase in the average survival time of the median mouse of the different batches of mice thus treated is highly significant compared to the mean survival time of the median mouse of the different batches of mice treated with genistein or vincristine used alone.

Examples of the modality of use of the compounds of formula I will be given below in protocols of mono or polychemotherapy with cytotoxic agents.

A. You are solid

1 ° / Lung cancer 1.1. not small cell (advanced stage):

- to the recommended protocol (T. Le Chevalier et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 360-367) are added intravenous infusions of genistein or another isoflavonoid:

This cure is to be repeated 8 times.

1.2. with small cells (advanced stage):

- to the recommended CAV or VAC protocol (B.J. Roth et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 282-291) are added the isoflavonoid infusions:

This treatment is to be repeated 6 times every 21 days. to the recommended protocol Pt-E (B.J. Roth et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10 282-291) are added the genistein infusions

each cycle is repeated every 21 days and the treatment includes 6 cycles.

1.3. locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer:

• monochemotherapy:

the course of treatment may include repeating this 4-week cycle. gemcitabine / cisplatin combination

the treatment including the repetition of this cycle every 21 days.

° / Cancer of the breast

- CMF protocol in adjuvant treatment of operable breast cancer (G. Bonnadonna et al., N. Engl. J. Med.; 1976; 294: 405-410):

each cycle is repeated every 28 days and the treatment has 6 cycles. AC protocol (B. Fisher et al., J. Clin. Oncol.; 1990; 8: 1483 - 1496) in adjuvant therapy:

each cycle is repeated every 21 days and the treatment has 4 cycles.

breast cancer with metastases

in the FAC protocol (A.U. Buzdar et al., Cancer 1981; 47: 2537 - 2542) and its various adaptations, isoflavonoid infusions are added according to the following (nonlimiting) scheme:

each cycle is repeated every 3 weeks until the diagnosis of a new progression of the disease. in the CAF protocol (G. Falkson et al., Cancer 1985; 56: 219-224)

each cycle is repeated every 28 days until the diagnosis of a new progression of the disease.

- in the CMF protocol:

this cycle is to be repeated every 3 to 5 weeks and the treatment includes 6 cycles. in the CMF-VP protocol

this treatment is to be repeated every 4 weeks.

in the FEC protocol

this treatment is to be repeated every 3 weeks. - in the MMC-VBC protocol (C. Brambilla et al., Tumori, 1989; 75: 141-144)

this treatment is to be repeated every 28 days until the diagnosis of disease progression.

in the NFL protocol (S.E. Jones et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 9: 1736 1739):

the treatment has two cycles spaced 21 days apart and then requires an evaluation.

Isoflavonoid infusions can also be used to treat metastatic breast cancer when a taxoid is used, for example:

- with paclitaxel (FA Holmes et al., J. Natl Cancer Inst. 1991; 83: 1797 - 1805) in the treatment of forms with metastases possibly resistant to anthracyclines:

This cycle is repeated every 21 days until a new progression of the disease is diagnosed.

with docetaxel (CA Hudis et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1996; 14: 58 -65), in locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer, resistant or relapsing after cytoxic chemotherapy (having included an anthracycline) or relapsing during an adjuvant treatment:

This cycle is repeated every 21 days for a cure of 2 cycles or until the onset of disease progression.

in dose intensification protocols, associating transplantation of autologous medullary cells and peripheral blood stem cells, in consolidation of first-line treatment, for example:

• CPB protocol (WP Peters et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 132-1143), in which the iv perfusion of stem cells takes place on days D _1f D ₀ and D,:

CTCb protocol (K. Antman et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 102-110), in which the iv perfusion of stem cells takes place on day D ₀ :

- CTM protocol (LE Damon et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1989; 7: 560-571 and IC Henderson et al., J. Cellular Biochem. 1994 (SuppI 18B): 95) in which the iv perfusion of cells -hematopoietic strains takes place on day D ₀ :

3 ° / Gynecological cancers

3.1 Ovarian cancer:

- for the treatment of ovarian carcinomas, in particular metastatic:

i) PAC protocol (G. A. Omura et al. J. Clin. Oncol. 1989; 7: 457-465): isoflavonoid infusions are administered according to the following scheme:

this cycle is repeated every 21 to 28 days and the treatment has 8 cycles.

ii) altretamine protocol, according to A. Marietta et al. (Gynecol. Oncol. 1990; 36: 93 -96): the treatment comprising two cycles, spaced 28 days apart.

ii) paclitaxel protocol: isoflavonoids can be added to the paclitaxel protocol as described by W.P. Me Guire et al. (Ann. Intern. Med. 1989; 111: 273 - 279):

the treatment comprising two of these cycles, spaced 28 days apart (with evaluation at the end).

for the treatment of metastatic and refractory ovarian carcinomas, isoflavonoids can be added to the second-line protocol, based on topotecan:

the treatment comprising two cycles, spaced 21 days apart (with evaluation the outcome)

according to A.P. Kudelka et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1996; 14: 1552-1557).

3.2 Trophoblastic tumors:

- in low-risk patients, isoflavonoids may be associated with the protocol described by H. Takamizawa et al. (Semin. Surg. Oncol. 1987; 3: 36-44):

(MTX-DATC protocol).

3.3 Cancers of the uterus:

isoflavonoids can also be combined with the CAV (or VAC) protocol according to the following scheme:

the treatment including the repetition of this cycle every 21 days.

- in the FAP protocol:

the treatment including the repetition of this cycle every 21 or 28 days.

° / Testicular and prostate cancer

- isoflavonoids can also be associated with testicular cancer protocols:

the treatment comprising 3 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 21 days. ° / Ca ncers of the bladder ie

isoflavonoids can be combined with the CISCA2 protocol (also called PAC)

the cycle being to be repeated every 3 weeks.

in the MVAC protocol (after CN Sternberg and I., J. Urol. 1988; 139: 461 469):

this cycle being repeated every 4 to 5 weeks, at least for 2 cycles. 6 ° / Carci nomes naso-pharvnqés / Cancers of the head and neck

- Isoflavonoids can be validly combined with the polychemotherapy protocols used in the treatment of these cancers:

6.1 Naso-pharyngeal cancers:

- ABVD protocol:

the cure comprising 1 to 6 cycles repeated at the rate of 1 cycle every 4 weeks.

6.2 Cancers of the head and neck with metastases: - in the Pt-FU protocol (ex: for cancers of the pharynx): according to the DVAL

Study Group (New Engl. J. M. 1991; 324: 1685 - 1690):

the treatment comprising two cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 3 weeks.

7 ° / Soft tissue sarcomas

- Isoflavonoids can be introduced into a protocol such as the CYVADIC protocol: - according to H. M. Pinedo et al. (Cancer 1984; 53: 1825):

for 2 cycles.

8 ° / Hormone-refractory prostate cancer. with metastases

- in the LAV-estramustine protocol, according to G.R. Hudis et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 1754: 1761):

6 weeks of treatment followed by 2 weeks of free interval.

9 ° / Cancers of the qerminal cells

i) for tumors with a favorable prognosis: - Pt-E protocol, according to G.J. BosI et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1988; 6: 1231-1238)

the cure comprising 4 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 21 or 28 days.

ii) for tumors with metastases:

- PEB protocol, according to S.D. Williams et al. (N. Eng. J. Med. 1987; 316 1435-1440):

the cure comprising 4 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 21 days. 0 ° / Cancers of the rei n

- metastatic renal cell carcinoma: isoflavonoids can be introduced into the protocol described by M. J. Wilkinson et al. (Cancer 1993; 71: 3601- 3604):

the treatment comprising two cycles spaced 28 days apart.

nephroblastoma: isoflavonoids can be introduced into the DAVE protocol:

at the rate of a cycle every 3 to 4 weeks. 1 1 ° / Cancers of the digestive tract

11.1 Cancers of the esophagus:

- isoflavonoids can be introduced into the FAP protocol according to

this cycle being repeated every 3 to 4 weeks.

11.2 Stomach cancer

- in advanced gastric carcinomas and / or with metastases:

- EAP protocol (after P. Preusser et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1989; 7: 1310)

1 cycle every 28 days. - FAMtx protocol: according to JA Wils et ai. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 89: 827):

the treatment first comprising two cycles, spaced 28 days apart. in some patients, this protocol or its variant (epirubicin replacing doxorubicin) may be used according to the following scheme:

12 ° / Colorectal cancers

- isoflavonoids can be introduced into the FU-Levamizole adjuvant treatment protocol for colorectal cancer (after C.G. Moertel et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 1990; 322: 352):

the bolus treatment with 5-FU being repeated each week after the induction phase D, - D ₅ , for .52 weeks; that by an isoflavonoid being repeated on the same rhythm, the day of the bolus of 5-FU then the 2 following days.

for the treatment of colorectal cancer, refractory to treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and with metastases:

- according to M.L. Rothenberg et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1996; 14: 1128-1135):

the treatment comprising two cycles, spaced 42 days apart. 3 ° / Kaposi sarcomas

- isoflavonoids can be combined with two protocols using antracyclines formulated into liposomes:

i) protocol described by P.S. Gill et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1995; 13: 996-1003) and C.A. Presant et al. (Lancet 1993; 341: 1242-1243):

the treatment comprising two cycles repeated 28 days apart before evaluating the effects.

ii) protocol of M. Harrison et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1995; 13: 914-920):

4 ° / Metastatic melanomas

- isoflavonoids can also be incorporated into combined protocols for the treatment of metastatic malignant melanomas:

- DTIC / TAM protocol: according to G. Cocconi et al. (N. Eng. J. Med. 1992; 327 : 516), the treatment including the repetition of 4 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 21 days, according to the diagram below:

the cure comprising 4 cycles at the rate of 1 cycle every 21 days.

15 ° / Neuroendocrine carcinoma

- isoflavonoids can be associated with the protocol described by C.G. Moertel et al. (Cancer 1991; 68: 227):

- Pt-E protocol:

the treatment comprising two cycles repeated every 28 days.

16 ° / Pancreatic cancer

- advanced pancreatic adeno-carcinoma: isoflavonoids can be associated with gemcitabine treatment, according to the protocol of M. Moore et al. (Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol. 1995; 14: 473)

B. O nco-hematol oqie

1 ° / Acute leukemias in adults

1.1. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia:

1.1.1. Linker protocol

Isoflavonoids can be added to Linker's protocols - Induction chemotherapy and Consolidation chemotherapy. (see C.A. Linker et al. Blood 1987; 69: 1242-1248 and C.A. Linker et al. Blood 1991; 78: 2814-2822) according to the following diagrams:

0 induction chemotherapy

ii) consolidation chemotherapy (diet A):

consolidation treatment A includes 4 consecutive cycles such as the one described above = Cycles 1, 3, 5 and 7.

iii) consolidation chemotherapy (regimes B and C):

The regimes described below correspond to the consolidation cycles 2, 4, 6 and 8 (regime B) and 9 (regime C), described by C.A. Linker et al. :

1.1.2. Hoeizer protocol

The products claimed may be added to the cytotoxics of this multidrug protocol (D. Hoeizer et al., Blood 1984; 64: 38-47, D. Hoeizer et al., Blood 1988; 71: 123-131) according to the following scheme : i) induction chemotherapy / Phase 1:

ii) induction chemotherapy / Phase 2:

Phase 2 of the induction can be carried out as follows

in) Re-induction chemotherapy / Phase 1

iv) Re-induction chemotherapy / Phase 2:

1.2. Acute myeloid leukemia:

1.2.1. Treatment of adults of all ages

Isoflavonoids can be added, according to the scheme below, to the treatment incorporating the standard dose of cytarabine previously described by R.O. Dilleman et al. (Blood, 1991; 78: 2520-2526), Z.A. Arlin et al. (Leukemia 1990; 4: 177-183) and P.H. Wiernik et al. (Blood 1992; 79: 313-319):

.2. Treatment of adults under the age of 60

i) induction chemotherapy:

This induction cycle incorporates the administration of high-dose cytarabine according to the following scheme:

(in order to reduce the risk of S.N.C. toxicity, in case of renal failure, adjust the dosage of cytarabine to the creatinine clearance) according to L.E. Damon et al. (Leukemia 1994; 8: 535-541), G.L. Phillips et al. (Blood 1991; 77: 1429-1435) and G. Smith et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1997; 15: 833-839).

ii) consolidation chemotherapy:

The cycle, described below, will be repeated 8 times, at the rate of 1 cycle every 4 to 6 weeks (after RJ Mayer et al., N. Engl J. Med. 1994; 331: 896-903):

iii) consolidation chemotherapy (with high dose of cytarabine):

The cycle, described below, must be repeated 2 times and is adapted from G.L. Phillips et al. (Blood 1991; 77: 1429-1435); S.N. Wolff et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1989; 7: 1260-1267); R.J. Mayer et al. (N. Engl J. Med. 1994; 331: 896-903):

1.2.3. Treatment of adults aged 60 or over

The substances claimed may be added to the following consolidation chemotherapy protocols: i) according to RO Dilman et al. (Blood 1991; 78; 2520-2526), ZA Arlin et al. (Leukemia 1990; 4: 177-183), PH Wiernik et al. (Blood1992; 79: 313-319):

// according to R.J. Mayer et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 194; 331: 896-903):

iii) according to CA Linker et al. (Blood 1993; 81: 311-318), N. Chao et al. (Blood 1993; 81: 319-323) and AM Yeager at al. (N. Eng. J. Med. 1986; 315: 145-147): This protocol includes an autologous bone marrow transplant

(practiced on day D ₀ ):

Or

iv) in the case of an HLA-compatible allogeneic bone marrow transplant according to: P.J. Tutscha et al. Blood 1987; 70: 1382-1388, F.R. Applebaum et al., Ann. Int. Med. 1984; 101: 581-588:

2 ° / Chronic leukemia in adults

2.1 Chronic myeloid leukemia

In the myeloblastic phase, isoflavonoids can be added to the HU-Mith treatment, described by C.A. Koller et al. (N. Engl. J. med. 1986; 315: 1433-1438):

2.2 Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

2.2.1 FCG-CLL protocol

Isoflavonoids can be added to the "pulsed chlorambucil" combinations as described by E. Kimby et al. (Leuk. Lymphoma 1991; 5 (SuppI.) 93-96) and by the FCGCLL (Blood 1990; 75: 1422-1425):

2.2.2 Fludarabine-CdA protocol according to HG Chun et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 9: 175-188), MJ Keating et al. (Blood 1989; 74: 19-25 / J. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 9: 44-49) and A. Saven et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1995; 13: 570-574):

3 ° / iymphoproliferative diseases

3.1 Hodgkin's disease

Isoflavonoids can be incorporated into the chemotherapy protocols conventionally used for the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma:

3.1.1 AVDB protocol according to G. Bonnadonna et al. (Cancer Clin. Trials 1979; 2: 217-226) and GP Canellos et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 1993; 327: 1478-1484): the cure comprising 6 to 8 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 28 days.

3.1.2 MOPP / ABVD protocol according to G. Bonnadonna et al. (Ann. Intern. Med. 1986; 104: 739-746) and G. P. Canellos et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 1993; 327: 1478-1484):

The MOPP protocol must be alternated with the ABVD protocol (see § 3.1.1) every 28 days and the treatment includes 6 cycles:

.1.3 Stanford V protocol according to NL Bartlett et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1995; 13: 1080-1088):

the treatment comprising 3 cycles at the rate of 1 cycle every 28 days.

3.1.4 EVA protocol according to G. P. Canellos et al. (Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 10: 273)

the treatment comprising 6 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 28 days.

3.1.5 Protocol B-CAVe according to W.G. Harker et al. (Ann. Intern. Med. 1984; 101: 440-446)

the treatment comprising 8 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 28 days. 3.2. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

3.2.1. low-grade malignancy

i) - CVP protocol

- after CM. Bagley et al. (Ann. Intern. Med. 1972; 76: 227-234) and C.S. Portlock et al. (Blood 1976; 47: 747-756)

This cycle is repeated every 21 days until maximum response

ii) - l-COPA protocol

- according to RV Smalley et al. (N. Eng. J. Med. 1992; 327: 1336 - 1341)

The treatment includes 8 to 10 cycles, one cycle every 28 days.

iii) - fludarabine-CdA protocol

- according to P. Solol-Celigny et al. (Blood 1994; 84 (Supp. 1): 383a), H. Hoeschster et al. ; (Blood 1994; 84 (SuppI. 1): 564a and A.C. Kay (J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 371 - 377)

For fludaribine, each cycle is repeated every 28 days; for cladribine, each cycle is repeated every 35 days. .2.2. intermediate malignancy grade

i) - CHOP or CNOP protocol

- according to EM McKelvey et al. (Cancer 1976; 38: 1484-1493), J.O Armitage et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1984; 2: 898-902), S. Paulovsky et al. (Ann. Oncol. 1992; 3: 205-209)

for the CHOP protocol

Mitoxantrone (N) can be used to replace (CNOP protocol) doxorubicin in patients over 60 years of age (dose: 12 mg / m ² bolus i; v. On day D1 of each cycle).

The cure by the CHOP or CNOP protocol includes 6 to 8 cycles at the rate of 1 cycle every 21 days.

ii) - MACOP-B protocol according to P. Klimo et al. (Ann. Intern. Med. 1985; 102: 596 602) and LA. Cooper et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 769-778)

This treatment protocol is spread over 12 weeks and corresponds to 1 cycle.

iii) - VACOP-B protocol according to JM Connors et al. (Proc. Am. Soc. Clin. Oncol. 1990; 9: 254):

Each cycle for 12 weeks.

iv) - m-BACOD / M-BACOD protocol according to MA Shipp et al. (Ann. Int. Med. 1986; 140: 757 765) and AT Skarin et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1983; 1: 91-98)

The treatment comprising 10 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 21 days.

v) - ProMACE / CytaBOM protocol according to DL Longo et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 9: 25-38)

The cure comprising 6 to 8 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 14 days.

3.2.3. low or intermediate grade of malignancy

i) - ESHAP rescue protocol in the event of recurrence or in the event of failure of first line treatment, according to WS Velasquez et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 1169 - 1176)

The treatment comprising 6 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 28 days.

ii) - MINE rescue protocol in the event of recurrence or in the event of failure of first line treatment, according to F. Cabanillas et al. (Semin. Oncol. 1990; 17 (SuppI. 10): 28 - 33)

This cycle is to be repeated every 21 days. 3.3. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: Burkitt's lymphoma, small cell lymphoma, iymphobiastic lymphoma.

3.3.1. Magrath Protocol

- The products claimed may be associated with the Magrath protocols according to the following diagrams:

i) - cycle 1

- according to I.T. Magrath et al. (Blood 1984; 63: 1102-1111)

ii) - cycles 2 to 15

- according to I.T. Magrath et al. (1984) also

the treatment comprising 14 cycles, one cycle every 28 days.

3.4 Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia

3.4.1 CVP protocol according to the CVP protocol described by MA Dimopoulous et al. (Blood 1994; 83 1452-1459) and CS Portlock et al. (Blood 1976; 47: 747-756)

the cure being to continue indefinitely (1 cycle every 21 days).

3.4.2 Fludarabine-CdA protocol according to H.M. Kantarjian et al. (Blood 1990; 75: 1928-1931) and M.A. Dinopoulous et al. (Ann. Intern. Med. 1993; 118: 195-198):

or

the treatment comprising 6 to 12 cycles spaced 28 days apart in the case of fludarabine and 2 cycles spaced 28 days apart also in the case of the cladribine.

3.5 Multiple myeloma

3.5.1 MP protocol according to R. Alexanian et al. (JAMA 1969; 208: 1680-1685), A. Belch et al. (Br. J. Cancer 1988; 57: 94-99) and F. Mandelli et al. (N. Engl. J. med. 1990; 322: 1430-1434):

or

the treatment comprising at least 12 cycles, at the rate of 1 cycle every 4 to 6 weeks. 3.5.2 VAD protocol according to B. Barlogie et al. (N. Engl. J. Med. 1984; 310: 1353-1356):

3.5.3 Protocol MP-interferon α according to O. Osterborg et al. (Blood 1993; 81: 1428-1434):

the course comprising the indefinite repetition of this cycle, at the rate of 1 cycle every 42 days. .5.4 VCAP or VBAP protocol according to SE Salmon et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1983; 1: 453-461) VCAP protocol:

VBAP protocol: cyclophosphamide is replaced by carmustine (BCNU), the rest being identical:

C. CHILD TUMORS - Pediatric oncology

Isoflavonoids can also be incorporated into polychemotherapy protocols for the treatment of pediatric tumors in order to improve antitumor efficacy while reducing the severity of side effects thanks to the action on the recruitment and mobilization of clonogenic cells and the possibility of reducing active doses. 1 Ewing's sarcoma / Primary neuroectodermal tumor

Isoflavonoids can be introduced into the VCR-Doxo-CY-1fos-Mesna-E protocol (ED Bergert et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1990; 8: 1514 - 1524; WH Meyer et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 1737 - 1742):

the treatment includes 6 to 10 of these cycles depending on the initial severity of the sarcoma and the amplitude of the response.

27 Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children 2.1. Induction chemotherapy (days D, - D ₃₀ )

Isoflavonoids can be added to the recommended protocols (PS Gaynon et al., J. Clin. Oncol., 1993, 11, 2234-2242; J. Pullen et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 2234-2242 ; J. Pullen et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 839 -849; VJ Land at al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 1939-1945)

depending on the result of the examination of the bone marrow, the transition to the consolidation phase takes place on day D ₂₈ of the treatment protocol.

2.2. Consolidation / maintenance chemotherapy

Isoflavonoids can be introduced into the maintenance protocol (PS Gaynon et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 2234-2242; J. Pullen et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 839 - 849; VJ Land et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 1939 -1945) according to the following scheme: 37 Acute myeloid leukemia in children

Isoflavonoids are added to the induction and consolidation / maintenance protocols according to the following schedules:

3.1. Induction chemotherapy

According to Y. Ravindranath et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 9: 572-580; M.E. Nesbit et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 127-135; RJ Wells et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 2367 - 2377):

this cycle being repeated from J ₂₈ .

3.2. Consolidation / maintenance chemotherapy

According to Y. Ravidranath et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1991; 9: 572-580; ME Nesbit et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 127-135; RJ Wells et al, J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 2367 - 2377):

47 Hodgkin's disease of the child

Isoflavonoids can be added to the MOPP-ABVD protocol according to EA Gehan et al. (Cancer 1990; 65: 1429-1437), SP Hunger et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1994; 12: 2160-2166) and MM Hudson et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 100 - 108):

This cycle must be repeated 6 times at the rate of 1 cycle every 8 weeks, the treatment comprising 6 cycles.

If an autologous bone marrow transplant (autograft) is prescribed, the CVB protocol described by R. Chopra et al. (Blood 1993; 81: 1137-1145), C. Wheeler et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1990; 8: 648 - 656) and RJ Jones et al (J. Clin Oncol 1990, 8, 527-537) can be implemented according to the following scheme (the allograft taking place on the day D ₀ ):

Child lymphoblastic lymphoma

Isoflavonoids may also be associated with induction chemotherapy protocols (AT Meadows et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1989; 7: 92 - 99 - C. Patte et al., Med. Ped. Oncol. 1992; 20 : 105 - 113 and A. Reiter et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1995; 13: 359 - 372) and maintenance chemotherapy:

5.1 Induction chemotherapy

5.2 Maintenance chemotherapy according to the following diagram: the treatment with 10 cycles

67 Pediatric neuroblastoma

The recommended Doxo-E-Cy-Pt multidrug protocol is adapted from RP Castleberry et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 1299-1304), A. Garaventa et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 1770 - 1779) and DC West et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 11: 84-90):

The evaluation of the therapeutic response is made after 9 weeks in order to decide on the attitude: surgical resection, radiotherapy or new chemotherapy.

77 Pediatric osteosarcoma

Isoflavonoids can be added to the Doxo-Pt-Mtx-Lcv protocol as described by M. Hudson et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1990; 8: 1988 - 1997), PA Meyers (J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 5 - 15), and HCV Bramwell et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1992; 10: 1579-1591):

87 Child's Rhabdomyosarcoma

The Vcr-Dact-CY-Mesna protocol (H. Maurer et al., Cancer 1993; 71: 1904 - 1922 and LR Mandell et al., Oncology 1993; 7: 71 - 83) may include the iv infusion of isoflavonoids depending on the following diagram:

At the end of the 9 ^th week of treatment, the efficacy must be evaluated in order to decide the consequences (surgery, radiotherapy, continuation of chemotherapy). 97 Wilms tumor in children

In the Ver - Dact protocol as described by GJ D'Angio et al. (Cancer, 1989; 64: 349-360) and DM Green et al. (J. Clin. Oncol. 1993; 11: 91-95):

This protocol being started after surgical resection.

In case of autologous bone marrow transplantation (auto-graft) according to A. Garaventar et al. (Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 1994; 22: 11-14), the E-Thio-Cy protocol can be modified as follows

bone marrow transplantation taking place on D ₀

Claims

1. Composition having an activity on the proliferation of clonogenic cells in tumors and which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of an isoflavonoid or of a chromone-type analog.

2. Composition according to claim 1, in which the isoflavonoid is chosen from the compounds of formula:

formula in which:

- R _1f R ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are chosen independently of one another from H, OH, an aikoxy group at C _r C ₄ , a group -OCOR ₇ , R ₇ being a C ₁ alkyl group -C ₄ , at least one of the substituents R ^ R ₂ , R ₃ or R ₄ being other than H, and R ₂ and R ₃ can together form a methylenedioxy group,

- R ₅ is chosen from H, OH, an aikoxy group C ^ O ,, an O-glycosyl group and a cyclohexyl group, - .Rβ is chosen from a cyclohexyl group, a phenyl group and a phenyl group 1 to 3 times substituted by groups chosen from H, OH and a CC ₄ aikoxy group,

- and denotes either a double bond or a single bond.

3. Composition according to claim 2, in which the isoflavonoid is chosen from genistein, daidzeine and biochanin A.

4. Use of an isoflavonoid or of a chromone analog for the manufacture of a medicament intended to interfere with the generation of clonogenic cells in tumors during the treatment of these tumors with at least one cytotoxic agent.

5. Use of a compound chosen from the compounds of formula:

formula in which: - RR ₂ , R ₃ and R ₄ are chosen independently of one another from H, OH, an aikoxy group in C ^ C ^ a group -OCOR ₇ , R ₇ being an alkyl group in C ^ C, at at least one of the substituents R ,, R ₂ , R ₃ or R ₄ being other than H, and R ₂ and R _{3 being} able to form together a methylenedioxy group, - R ₅ is chosen from H, OH and an aikoxy group at CC ₄ , an O-glycosyl group and a cyclohexyl group,

R ₆ is chosen from a cyclohexyl group, a phenyl group and a phenyl group 1 to 3 times substituted with groups chosen from H, OH and a C _r C ₄ aikoxy group,

- And designates either a double bond, or a single bond, for the manufacture of a medicament intended to interfere with the generation of clonogenic cells in tumors during treatment of these tumors with at least one cytotoxic agent.

6. Use according to claim 5, in which the compound of formula I is chosen from genistein, daidzeine and biochanin A.

7. A method of chemotherapeutic treatment of a tumor in a patient with at least one cytotoxic agent, which comprises the administration during treatment with the cytotoxic agent of a therapeutically effective amount of an isoflavonoid or an analogue of chromone type.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the isoflavonoid or the chromone analog is administered at the start of chemotherapy treatment and at the start of each chemotherapy treatment cycle.