Preparation and antitumor activity of additional mitomycin A analogues.

On the basis of qualitative structure-activity relationships developed in the preceding article, a series of 32 new mitomycin A analogues were prepared and tested in antitumor screens. Seven of them gave greater prolongation of life (ILS) than mitomycin C in the mouse P388 leukemia assay. They included examples with 7-O substituents such as cyclic ethers and nitrogen heterocycles. A Hansch analysis was attempted with log P and MR as the independent variables, but no statistically significant correlation could be made. Seven compounds, chosen mainly for their good potency (MED), were tested in the subcutaneous B16 melanoma assay in mice and four of them showed greater ILS than mitomycin C.