INVESTIGATION OF CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF 8 NORBORNANE DERIVATIVES ON 4 HUMAN CANCER CELL-LINES USING THE MTT ASSAY

A group of 8 structurally modified norbornane analogs, selected on bas is of water solubility, was tested for its potential cytotoxic effects using a modified MTT assay. Four tumor cell lines, three hematologica l and a hepatocellular one were used as an experimental model system. Some analogs exhibited an antitumor effect which was shown to be tissu e specific. The cytotoxic effect is most likely due to the nature of t he side chains rather than to the basic bicyclic norbornane structure of the molecule. These results not only provide a basis for the synthe sis of derivatives with effective antitumor activity, but also give so me indication of the the molecular target of these compounds.