Effect of alkyl-lysophospholipid analogs on the morphology of a murine lymphoma cell line.

The effect of two synthetic analogs of naturally occurring lysophospholipids, characterized by a powerful antitumor action both in vivo and in vitro, on the morphology of YAC-1 lymphoma murine cells was examined. Following incubation with the lysophospholipid analogs, progressive alterations of the cell morphology were observed, leading to complete cell lysis. The intense cytotoxic activity of lysophospholipid analogs appears to be selective towards tumor cells. Indeed, normal lymphocytes from mouse spleen, submitted to the same treatment, did not show any sign of ultrastructural changes.