Styryl benzylsulfones of formula (I) are useful as antiproliferative agents, including, for example, anticancer agents. In said formula, (a) (i) at least three of R1, R2, R.3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro. cyano. carboxyl. hydroxyl, phosphonato, amino, sulfamyl, acetoxy, dimethylamino(C2-C6 alkoxy) and trifluoromethyl, and the balance of said R1, R2, R.3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro, eyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphonato, amino, sulfamyl, acetoxy, dimethylamino(C2-C6 alkoxy) and trifluoromethyl and (ii) R6, R7, R.8, R9 and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy. nitro, cyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphonato, amino, sulfamyl, acetoxy, dimethylamino(C2-C6 alkoxy) and trifluoromethyl or (b) (i) at least three of R6, R7, R.8, R9 and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphonato, amino, sulfamyl, acetoxy, dimethylamino(C2-C6 alkoxy) and trifluoromethyl, and the balance of said R6, R7, R.8, R9 and R10 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphonato, amino, sulfamyl, acetoxy, dimethylamino(C2-C6 alkoxy) and trifluoromethyl and (ii) R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 lakoxy, nitro, cyano, carboxyl, hydroxyl, phosphonato, amino, sulfamyl, acetoxy, dimethylamino(C2-C6 alkoxy) and trifluoromethyl or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
