Antitumor activity of prumycin.

The antifungal antibiotic, prumycin, was studied for antitumor activity against several tumor systems. It was found to possess potential antitumor activity against a well-established mouse mammary adenocarcinoma in C3H/He mice. It was also active in prolongation of the lifespan of mice bearing P-388 lymphocytic leukemia. Moreover, prumycin did not depress the white blood cell counts in the mouse peripheral blood. However, severe alopecia was observed in mice treated with this agent at dosage level near the LD50.