[Studies on anti-tumor agents. I: Synthesis and anti-cancer activity of amino acid derivatives of norcantharidin].

In order to search for new compounds with higher anti-cancer activities and lower toxicities, 19 amino acid derivatives of norcantharidin, of which 16 are unknown compounds, were designed and synthesized. Preliminary screening results revealed that 2-(syn-exo-7-oxabicyclo [2.2.1] heptane-2,3-dicarboxylic imido)-N-phenyl glutaramic acid exhibited a fairly apparent inhibitory activity against human-hepatoma cells in vitro (inhibitory rate 39.4% at 0.025 mumol/ml).