THE CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF CYCLIC IMIDO ALKYL ETHERS, THIOETHERS, SULFOXIDES, SULFONES AND RELATED DERIVATIVES

Cyclic imides such as N-substituted alkyl ethers, thioethers, sulfoxid es, sulfones and related derivatives were potent agents against human single cell tumors and selected solid tumor growths, eg adenocarcinoma of the colon and glioma. These agents in the L1210 lymphoid leukemia tumor model preferentially inhibited DNA synthesis. The regulatory enz yme sites in the purine pathway were targets of the agents. Other site s of inhibition were DNA polymerase alpha and thymidylate synthetase a ctivities. d(NTP) pool levels were also reduced by the agents over 60 min.