[2 new antineoplastic derivatives: 9-hydroxy-2-methyl-ellipticinium (acetate) and 9-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-ellipticinium (chloride). Effect on mouse L 1210 leukemia].

The antitumoral activity of two new derivatives of ellipticine, 9-hydroxy-2-methyl ellipticinium and 9-hydroxy-2,6-dimethyl-ellipticinium, has been determined using L 1210 mouse leukemia. The first compound elicits a therapeutic index similar to that of 9-hydroxy-ellipticine but is active at doses ten times smaller. The second compound elicits an exceptionally high therapeutic index. It is still active when used at one hundredth of the sublethal dose.