DIMETHYLSILANE POLYAMINES - CYTOSTATIC COMPOUNDS WITH POTENTIALS AS ANTICANCER DRUGS

Several dimethylsilane tetramines [homologs of spermine with an Si(CH3 )(2) group in the central carbon chain], a carbon analog of the dimeth ylsilane tetramines [containing C(CH3)(2) instead of Si(CH3)(2)] and a dimethylsilane hexamine were studied with regard to their cytotoxic a ctivity and their ability to interact with double-stranded DNA. All po lyamine analogs exerted cytostatic effects to several cell lines at mi cromolar concentrations. Their ability to condense DNA was comparable to and their ability to displace ethidium bromide from binding to DNA was superior to that of spermine. Their cytostatic effect was not corr elated with the depletion of cellular spermidine concentrations. It is suggested that the new polyamine analogs act mainly by displacing spe rmidine from binding sites which are essential for the promotion of ce ll growth.