Compositions and methods for treating hyperproliferative disorders

A method of treating a hyperproliferative disorder in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administering to said subject, in combination, a treatment effective amount of: (a) a ceramide-increasing retinoid such as fenretinide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; and (b) at least one (and in certain embodiments at least two) compounds selected from the groups consisting of (i) a non-18 carbon chain length L-threo-sphinganine(s) or pharmaceuticeutically acceptable salt thereof, (ii) glucosylceramide or glucosyl(dihydro)ceramide synthesis inhibitor(s), and (iii) sphingomyelin or dihydrosphingomyelin synthase inhibitor(s). Preferred L-threo-sphinganines are of carbon chain length 17 carbons, 19 carbons and 20 carbons. A preferred glucosylceramide or glucosyl(dihydro)ceramide synthesis inhibitor is D-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol.; A preferred sphingomyelin or dihydrosphingomyelin synthesis inhibitor is D-threo-1-phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol. A preferred hyperproliferative disorder is brain cancers.