A cell permeable iron chelator, optionally in combination with an autophagy inhibiting agent, is used for treating a solid cancer tumour in a person. A preferred chelator is an alkyl substituted N-(1-pyridine-2-yl-methylidene)-N-(9H-1,3,4,9-tetraaza-fluoren-2-yl)-hydrazine. A preferred autophagy inhibiting agent is chloroquine. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition comprising iron chelator, pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, optionally, autophagy inhibiting agent； and a method of treating cancer by administering cancer combating-effective amount(s) of the iron chelator or the combination of iron chelator and autophagy inhibiting agent.
