Evaluation of 2-(methylaminosulfonyl)-1-(arylsulfonyl)-1-methylhydrazines as anticancer agents.

Seven new 2-(methylaminosulfonyl)-1-(arylsulfonyl)-1-methylhydrazines were prepared. The anticancer activity of these compounds was assessed in murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) by in vivo screening. Moderate in vivo activity in EAC was exhibited by three compounds. All of them were screened in vitro against a battery of human tumor cell lines at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA. One of them, compound 3a has displayed highly significant specificity in the renal tumor cell line RXF 393. These three compounds were also assessed for in vitro anti-HIV activity at the NCI, however, they have not reached the criteria of significant activity. The alkylating activity of the compounds was determined by measuring the absorbance of the alkylated product of 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyridine. It has been found that they are capable of acting as chemical alkylating agents.