The present invention is directed to substituted 4H-chromene and analogs thereof,
represented by the general Formula I:
##STR1##
wherein A, B, X, Y, Z and R5 are defined herein. The present invention
also relates to the discovery that compounds having Formula I are activators of
caspases and inducers of apoptosis. Therefore, the activators of caspases and inducers
of apoptosis of this invention can be used to induce cell death in a variety of
clinical conditions in which uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells occurs.
