Dolastatin 10 (1) is a potent antineoplastic pentapeptide. Novel dolas
tatin 10 analogs each modified at one of the constituent amino acid de
rivatives, were synthesized and their antitumor activity was evaluated
against P388 leukemia in mice. The structural requirements for antitu
mor activity are discussed, Some of the analogs, 31c, 35c, 38b, and 50
c showed excellent activity in vivo. Highly active 50c, which lacks th
e thiazole group of 1, was selected for further development as an anti
tumor agent.