Structural differences in binding pockets of members of the HSP90 family can be exploited to achieve differential degradation of kinases and other signaling proteins through the use of designed small molecules which interact with the N-terminal binding pocket with an affinity which is greater than ADP and different from the ansamycin antibiotics for at least one species of the HSP90 family. Moreover, these small molecules can be designed to be soluble in aqueous media, thus providing a further advantage over the use of ansamycin antibiotics. Pharmaceutical compositions can be formulated containing a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a molecule that includes a binding moiety which binds to the N-terminal pocket of at least one member of the HSP90 family of proteins. Such binding moieties were found to have antiproliferative activity against tumor cells which are dependent on proteins requiring chaperones of the HSP90 family for their function. Different chemical species have different activity, however, allowing the selection of, for example Her2 degradation without degradation of Raf kinase. Thus, the binding moieties possess an inherent targeting capacity. In addition, the small molecules can be linked to targeting moieties to provide targeting of the activity to specific classes of cells. Thus, the invention further provides a method for treatment of diseases, including cancers, by administration of these compositions. Dimeric forms of the binding moieties may also be employed.
