Diacridines: bifunctional intercalators. II. The biological effects of putrescine, sperimidine and spermine diacridines on HeLa cells and on the L-1210 and P-388 leukemia cells.

The effect of putrescine, spermidine and spermine diacridines on the growth of HeLa cells and of P-388 and L-1210 leukemia cells has been evaluated and compared to that of the parent compound, 9-aminoacridine. The diacridines are more effective growth inhibitors than 9-aminoacridine. The primary site of action appears to be the inhibition of RNA synthesis.