Hypericin, helianthrone and derivatives thereof of general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein the dotted line between positions 11 and 12 represent an optional C11-C12 bond; R is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy, NH--C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, and NH-hydroxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)alkyl; R' is independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy and C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy; R" is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy, NH--C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, and NH-hydroxy(C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)alkyl; and R.sub.1, R.sub.2, R.sub.3, R.sub.4, R.sub.5 and R.sub.6 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, chloro, bromo, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxy, and C.sub.1 -C.sub.10 alkoxycarbonyl, provided that R" is not hydrogen when there is a C11-C12 bond, are useful as inhibitors of angiogenesis and can be used to prevent formation of metastases and restenosis and for the treatment of angiogenesis-associated ophthalmologic disorders. In addition, the helianthrones of formula (I) can be used for the treatment of tumors in the absence of light irradiation. New compounds include those of formula I which are other than hypericin and known hypericin derivatives and there is either a C11-C12 bond or at least one R" is other than hydrogen.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation of the U.S. National Stage designation of International Application PCT/IL01/00091, filed Jan. 31, 2001, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/494,296 filed Jan. 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,229,048.
To prevent intimal hyperplasia within a dialysis graft, a flexible tube comprising the dialysis graft is coated interiorly before placement with an anticarcinogen or mitosis-inhibiting agent for preventing cell division. The graft can also be irradiated with light energy by directing light into the lumen of the tube that has been grafted in place, thereby preventing or reducing dialysis graft intimal hyperplasia and reducing inflammation. The light source can be a light emitting diode (LED) or a chemical light source, i.e., a chemiluminescent substance for producing cool light energy within the graft to prevent or reduce the symptoms of GIH. When phototherapy is used, the body is exposed to light radiation at the site of the graft in sufficient amount to prevent undesired cell proliferation within the vessels, the graft, or surrounding tissue where the invention is used without detectable damage to body tissue.
