Cytotoxic and cancerostatic effect of 1,4-dithiaanthraquinone-2,3-dicarbonitrile.

1,4-Dithiaanthraquinone-2,3-dicarbonitrile (DTA) has been found to exert a considerable cytostatic effect especially on some of the investigated types of eukaryotic cells, concretely on the HeLa cells, moulds, yeasts, protozoa and algae. In cells of the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) DTA after a short exposition causes a parallel inhibition of incorporation of 14C-adenine and 14C-valine, in proportion to its rising concentration. The inhibition of biosynthetic processes thus made manifest, is probably a consequence of the primary DTA intervention into the energy metabolism of EAC cells, particularly in glycolysis. The effect of DTA in concentrations capable of bringing about full inhibition of glucose consumption or lactate formation in EAC cells also results in a loss of their transplantability. On the other hand, DTA also exerts a cancerostatic effect on the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in mice.