The present invention relates to the use of pimozide in the inhibition of the RAN gene, in particular for use in the treatment of a cancer that overexpresses RAN or its protein product Ran. The inhibition of the RAN gene is at transcriptional level which leads to a greater degree of apoptosis in cancer cells relative to that induced in normal cells. Also claimed is a nanoparticle formulation of pimozide. The nanoparticles may avoid off target effects at the dopamine receptor and are thus suitable for selective cancer therapy.
