Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated
Method for treating cancer using a combination of Chk1 and ATR inhibitors

Abstract:

The present invention relates to methods of treating cancer in a patient by administering a compound useful as an inhibitor of ATR protein kinase in combination with a compound useful as an inhibitor of Chk1 protein kinase. The aforementioned combination displays a surprising synergistic effect in treating cancer despite the targeted protein kinases being within the same biological pathway. Moreover, the present invention also relates to methods of treating cancer by administering a compound useful as an inhibitor of ATR protein kinase; administering a compound useful as an inhibitor of Chk1 protein kinase; as well as administering a DNA damaging agent to a patient. The compounds utilized in this invention are represented by formula I and formula II: ##STR00001## wherein the variables are as defined herein.