Overexpression of metallothionein confers resistance to anticancer drugs.

Resistance to antineoplastic agents is the major obstacle to curative therapy of cancer. Tumor cell lines with acquired resistance to the antineoplastic agent cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) overexpressed metallothionein and demonstrated cross-resistance to alkylating agents such as chlorambucil and melphalan. Human carcinoma cells that maintained high levels of metallothionein because of chronic exposure to heavy metals were resistant to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), melphalan, and chlorambucil. Furthermore, cells transfected with bovine papilloma virus expression vectors containing DNA encoding human metallothionein-IIA were resistant to cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II), melphalan, and chlorambucil but not to 5-fluorouracil or vincristine. Thus, overexpression of metallothionein represents one mechanism of resistance to a subset of clinically important anticancer drugs.

Dissociation of antitumor potency from anthracycline cardiotoxicity in a doxorubicin analog.

The search for new congeners of the leading anticancer drug doxorubicin has led to an analog that is approximately 1000 times more potent, noncardiotoxic at therapeutic dose levels, and non-cross-resistant with doxorubicin. The new anthracycline, 3'-deamino-3'-(3-cyano-4-morpholinyl)doxorubicin (MRA-CN), is produced by incorporation of the 3' amino group of doxorubicin in a new cyanomorpholinyl ring. The marked increase in potency was observed against human ovarian and breast carcinomas in vitro; it was not accompanied by an increase in cardiotoxicity in fetal mouse heart cultures. Doxorubicin and MRA-CN both produced typical cardiac ultrastructural and biochemical changes, but at equimolar concentrations. In addition, MRA-CN was not cross-resistant with doxorubicin in a variant of the human sarcoma cell line MES-SA selected for resistance to doxorubicin. Thus antitumor efficacy was dissociated from both cardiotoxicity and cross-resistance by this modification of anthracycline structure.

B16 murine melanoma and aging: slower growth and longer survival in old mice.

The growth characteristics and colonization potential of a transplantable melanoma administered to young (3 mo) and old (24 mo) C57BL/6 mice were investigated. After sc injection of B16-F10 melanoma cells, tumor growth was slower, and final tumor volume was less in the older mice. Furthermore, after iv injection of B16-F1 melanoma cells, the number of pulmonary colonies was also less, and the survival was greater in the older mice. These findings indicate an age advantage in this experimental tumor model that may be attributed to either physical or immunologic factors.

Role of reactive nitrogen intermediate production in alveolar macrophage-mediated cytostatic activity induced by bleomycin lung damage in rats.

Bleomycin (BLM) is a useful anticancer agent sometimes associated with a diffuse pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. Using an intratracheal model of BLM-induced pulmonary damage, we have further investigated alveolar macrophage (AM) activation following intratracheal BLM. From rats that had been treated with either a single, fibrogenic, intratracheal dose of BLM (BLM-AM) or a comparable volume of saline (C-AM), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected, and AM were isolated using Percoll gradient centrifugation. Using a spectrophotometric assay, production of nitrites by AM was measured. C-AM released low levels of nitrites, whereas BLM-AM as well as C-AM activated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide released significant amounts of nitrites. The addition of N6-monomethylarginine, a substrate-specific inhibitor of the L-arginine-dependent effector mechanism in activated macrophages, reduced the amount of measurable nitrites released from both BLM-AM and activated C-AM. Similar results were observed when 12 x 10(6) RBC were added to the cocultures. In the presence of N6-monomethylarginine, BLM-AM had no effect on two consequences of BLM-AM-induced cytostatic activity, DNA synthesis inhibition and aconitase activity reduction in the L1210 target cell. These results suggest that reactive nitrogen intermediates measured as nitrites are important moieties in our in vivo model of macrophage activation. Further, the identification of this effector molecule presents possibilities for therapeutic and biochemical manipulations.

Effect of erythrocytes on alveolar macrophage cytostatic activity induced by bleomycin lung damage in rats.

Bleomycin (BLM) has been successfully used to treat a number of human neoplasms. The main toxicity associated with BLM therapy is an acute pulmonary inflammation that can culminate in diffuse chronic fibrosis. The effect of BLM-induced pulmonary inflammation on the cytostatic activity of alveolar macrophages (AM) was investigated using AM obtained from rats that had been previously treated with BLM. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was collected at selected time intervals following a single fibrogenic dose of intratracheally administered BLM (3.6 mg/kg). AM obtained 12 to 72 h following intratracheal BLM (BLM-AM) caused cytostasis of murine leukemia L1210 cells in co-culture, whereas AM obtained from saline-treated controls were not cytostatic. These results indicate that the growth-inhibitory activity of the AM was related to the pulmonary inflammation. Cytostatic activity in control AM could be induced by in vitro exposure to lipopolysaccharide (5 micrograms). When RBC were added to the AM-L1210 co-culture, the cytostatic activity of the BLM-AM was abrogated. The fact that chemical treatment of the RBC with sodium nitrite and potassium cyanide or N-ethylmaleimide did not alter the ability of the RBC to abrogate AM cytostatic activity suggests that the RBC is not acting as a scavenger of oxygen radicals. In contrast, the addition of FeSO4 to the AM-L1210 co-culture mimicked the effect of RBC addition. Aconitase, an iron-sulfur-containing enzyme necessary for mitochondrial respiration, is decreased in L1210 cells that have been co-cultured with BLM-AM but not when the co-cultures also contain RBC. These results suggest that (a) pulmonary inflammation induces cytostatic activity in AM, (b) the alteration of iron homeostasis plays an important role in this cytostatic process, and (c) RBC can prevent this cytostatic activity.

Vinblastine pharmacokinetics measured by a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Radioimmunoassays have been developed for pharmacokinetic studies of vinblastine. Although highly sensitive, radioimmunoassays are both expensive and potentially biohazardous. This paper describes a new immunoassay procedure, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which uses enzymatic activity rather than radioactivity as an index of drug concentration. Antiserum to vinblastine was attached to the plastic wells of microtiter plates and incubated in the presence of varying amounts of vinblastine which had been conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. After brisk washing of the wells, p-nitrophenylphosphate was added to each well. The amount of enzyme present in the well was quantitated by the production of the chromophore, p-nitrophenol. The concentration of free vinblastine present in a given sample was inversely proportional to the enzymatic activity. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is capable of detecting as little as 5 pg of either vinblastine or vincristine and is not cross-reactive with other commonly used oncolytic agents. A pharmacokinetic study was performed in rats administered vinblastine i.v., and a triphasic elimination curve was obtained. These results indicate that the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay provides a nonradioactive, inexpensive, and sensitive method to monitor plasma levels of vinblastine. Further, since the antibody is cross-reactive with vincristine, it would appear that similar data could be generated for vincristine.

Amelioration of adriamycin and daunorubicin myocardial toxicity by adenosine.

Primary cultures of rat myocardial cells were used to investigate the dose and time-dependent cellular enzyme release induced by either Adriamycin or daunorubicin, Concentrations of either anthracycline (1.8 or 18 microM) produced significant release of creatine phosphokinase and lactic dehydrogenase from myocardial cells within 24 hr of exposure without a detectable decrease in cell viability. Preincubation of the myocardial cells with varying concentrations of adenosine (10 microM to 1 mM) for 24 hr prior to the addition of anthracycline decreased or prevented drug-induced enzyme release. Other putative myocardial protectants, i.e., N-acetyl-L-cysteine, alpha-tocopherol, or carnitine, were ineffective in preventing anthracycline-induced enzyme release. Although adenosine was an effective myocardial protectant, it had no significant effect on cellular uptake of daunorubicin, nor did adenosine adversely affect the oncolytic activity of daunorubicin against L1210 leukemia cells in vitro. Anthramycin, another oncolytic agent having reported cardiotoxic effects, was also tested in the in vitro system. With this drug, however, no enzyme release was detected at less than lethal doses nor did adenosine have any protective potential against the toxicity of anthramycin. Finally, Adriamycin caused no significant lactic dehydrogenase release when incubated at 1.8 or 18 microM with H9c2 cells, a cell line having primarily skeletal muscle characteristics. This result suggests a specific toxicity of anthracyclines for myocardial but not skeletal muscle cells.

Toxicity and antitumor activity of cis-bis-cyclopentenecarboxylato-1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(II) encapsulated in multilamellar vesicles.

The potential of multilamellar vesicles (MLVs) as carriers of cis-bis-cyclopentenecarboxylato-1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(II) (CPDP), a lipophilic cisplatin derivative, was assessed. MLVs composed of dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC), dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG), and cholesterol at different molar ratios were tested. The MLV-CPDP preparation with the highest antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia in vivo was DMPC:DMPG 7:3-CPDP. The encapsulation efficiency of this preparation was 66 +/- 4% (SD); the stability in 0.9% NaCl solution at 4 degrees C was 89% at 14 days and 93% 18 h after incubation in human AB serum at 37 degrees C. The toxicities of DMPC:DMPG 7:3-CPDP and free CPDP (suspended in hydroxypropyl cellulose) administered i.p. were similar (50% lethal dose = 75 versus 91 mg/kg; blood urea nitrogen values 96 h after the administration of the 50% lethal dose = 32.0 versus 34.4 mg/dl). The mean %T/C [(median survival time of treated mice divided by median survival time of control mice) X 100] obtained after a single i.p. injection of the optimal dose of each preparation tested was 215 (range 200 to 232) for DMPC:DMPG 7:3-CPDP, 175 (range 158 to 209) for DMPG-CPDP, 162 (range 136 to 179) for free CPDP, and 178 (range 169 to 189) for cisplatin. Using a multiple i.p. injection schedule (injections on Days 1, 5, and 9), DMPC:DMPG 7:3-CPDP was more active than free CPDP and cisplatin (%T/C: 403, 284, and 253% respectively). DMPC:DMPG 7:3-CPDP is less toxic and more active against L1210 leukemia in vivo than is cisplatin. The encapsulation of CPDP in MLVs composed of DMPC:DMPG 7:3 provides an adequate vehicle for the administration of this lipophilic compound and enhances its antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia.

Effect of disulfiram (tetraethylthiuram disulfide) amd diethyldithiocarbamate on the bladder toxicity and antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide in mice.

Cyclophosphamide is the most commonly prescribed alkylating agent in clinical medicine. The usefulness of cyclophosphamide is often limited, however, by its propensity to cause hemorrhagic cystitis especially in children or patients receiving concomitant radiotherapy. Administration i.p. of cyclophosphamide at doses of 100 mg/kg or more to mice produced a significant increase in urinary bladder weight within 48 hr of treatment. The present studies demonstrate that disulfiram prevented cyclophosphamide-induced bladder damage when administered p.o. within 1 hr of cyclophosphamide treatment. Diethyldithiocarbamate, a sulfhydryl-containing metabolite of disulfiram, had identical uroprotective activity. Unlike disulfiram, diethyldithiocarbamate was effective only when administered 2 to 4 hr after cyclophosphamide. Disulfiram augmented slightly the antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide against L1210 murine leukemia in vivo when administered 30 min prior to cyclophosphamide. In contrast, diethyldithiocarbamate had no effect on the antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide when administered 4 hr after cyclophosphamide.

Ascorbato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane):platinum(II) complexes, a new series of water-soluble antitumor drugs.

Dichloro-1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH):platinum(II), the prototype DACH:platinum complex, had good antitumor activity, was not cross-resistant with cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) (DDP), but was, unfortunately, virtually insoluble in water and was, therefore, not evaluated clinically. This paper summarizes some of the chemical and biological attributes of a series of cis-bisascorbato-DACH:platinum(II) complexes (DAP). Although the primary emphasis has been placed on the DAP complex consisting of the isomeric mixture DACH, a series of complexes using the isomers of either DACH or ascorbic acid have also been synthesized. The synthetic procedure entailed reacting the water-soluble sulfato-DACH:platinum(II) with barium ascorbate, and the water-soluble product DAP was removed from the BaSO4 precipitate by filtration. Based upon elemental analysis, all the complexes had stoichiometric composition of one DACH:one platinum and two ascorbate monoanions. High-pressure liquid chromatography of cis-bisascorbato (mixed-isomer DACH):platinum revealed a series of platinum-containing, ultraviolet-absorbing peaks. All the DAP complexes had significant in vitro cytotoxicity against L1210 leukemia cells (L1210/0) with 50%-inhibitory dose values ranging from 2 to 5 micrograms/ml. None of the complexes was cross-resistant with DDP when tested in vitro against L1210 cells 50-fold resistant to DDP (L1210/DDP). The cis-bisascorbato (mixed-isomer DACH):platinum (DAP-1) was administered i.p. to C57BL X DBA/2 F1 mice inoculated i.p. with 10(6) L1210/0 cells. When administered on Days 1, 5, and 9, the DAP-1 complex consistently produced treated:control values in excess of 200% with several long-term survivors (alive 60 days after tumor inoculation). Further, the DAP-1 complex was totally non-cross-resistant with DDP when tested in vivo against a DDP-resistant L1210 line. Toxicological investigations revealed that DAP-1 was relatively nonnephrotoxic but did cause the expected bone marrow and gastrointestinal toxicity. In summary, the DAP complexes are highly water-soluble, nonnephrotoxic platinum complexes with sufficient antitumor activity to warrant further pharmacological, biochemical, and chemical investigations.

Water-soluble N-substituted iminodiacetato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)-platinum(II) complexes as potential antitumor agents.

A series of water-soluble N-substituted iminodiacetato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)-platinum(II) complexes (IDP) were synthesized and tested for chemical stability, antitumor activity, and toxicity. The results obtained suggest that these complexes are relatively stable for more than 48 h when dissolved in water or phosphate buffer. All complexes had good in vitro cytotoxicity and were not cross-resistant with cis-dichloro-diammineplatinum(II) (DDP) in a DDP-resistant cell line in vitro. When the complexes were administered as a single i.p. injection to C57BL/6 X DBA/2F1 (hereafter called B6D2F1) mice inoculated with L1210 leukemia cells, a significant increase in mean survival time was observed, but there were few long-term survivors. When the complexes were administered on Days 1, 5, and 9 after tumor inoculation, however, cure rates of 50 to 85% were obtained. The oncolytic activity of the IDP complexes against L1210 ascites appeared much greater than that of DDP. The IDP complexes also had good antitumor activity when administered i.p. on Days 1, 5, and 9 following i.p. inoculation of B16 melanoma to B6D2F1 mice. Five of the six IDP complexes had no significant nephrotoxicity (as evidenced by lack of elevated blood urea nitrogen levels). N-Benzyl-iminodiacetato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)-platinum(II) resolved into three distinct peaks of UV-absorbing material that corresponded with three distinct peaks of platinum-containing material. The exact chemical identity of the active component of this mixture is currently under investigation. The results obtained to date, however, suggest that the N-substituted iminodiacetato(1,2-diaminocyclohexane)-platinum(II) complexes are good candidates for further developmental studies.

Multiple mechanisms confer drug resistance to mitoxantrone in the human 8226 myeloma cell line.

Selection for in vitro drug resistance can result in a complex phenotype with more than one mechanism of resistance emerging concurrently or sequentially. We examined emerging mechanisms of drug resistance during selection with mitoxantrone in the human myeloma cell line 8226. A novel transport mechanism appeared early in the selection process that was associated with a 10-fold resistance to mitoxantrone in the 8226/MR4 cell line. The reduction in intracellular drug concentration was ATP-dependent and ouabain-insensitive. The 8226/MR4 cell line was 34-fold cross-resistant to the fluorescent aza-anthrapyrazole BBR 3390. The resistance to BBR 3390 coincided with a 50% reduction in intracellular drug concentration. Confocal microscopy using BBR 3390 revealed a 64% decrease in the nuclear:cytoplasmic ratio in the drug-resistant cell line. The reduction in intracellular drug concentration of both mitoxantrone and BBR 3390 was reversed by a novel chemosensitizing agent, fumitremorgin C. In contrast, fumitremorgin C had no effect on resistance to mitoxantrone or BBR 3390 in the P-glycoprotein-positive 8226/DOX6 cell line. Increasing the degree of resistance to mitoxantrone in the 8226 cell line from 10 to 37 times (8226/MR20) did not further reduce the intracellular drug concentration. However, the 8226/MR20 cell line exhibited 88 and 70% reductions in topoisomerase II beta and alpha expression, respectively, compared with the parental drug sensitive cell line. This decrease in topoisomerase expression and activity was not observed in the low-level drug-resistant, 8226/MR4 cell line. These data demonstrate that low-level mitoxantrone resistance is due to the presence of a novel, energy-dependent drug efflux pump similar to P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance-associated protein. Reversal of resistance by blocking drug efflux with fumitremorgin C should allow for functional analysis of this novel transporter in cancer cell lines or clinical tumor samples. Increased resistance to mitoxantrone may result from reduced intracellular drug accumulation, altered nuclear/cytoplasmic drug distribution, and alterations in topoisomerase II activity.

Mechanisms of asbestos-induced nitric oxide production by rat alveolar macrophages in inhalation and in vitro models.

To evaluate the contribution of reactive nitrogen species to inflammation by asbestos, Fischer 344 rats were exposed to crocidolite or chrysotile asbestos by inhalation to determine whether increases occurred in nitric oxide (NO.) metabolites from alveolar macrophages (AMs). AMs from animals inhaling asbestos showed significant elevations (p < .05) in nitrite/nitrate levels which were ameliorated by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA), an inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity. Temporal patterns of NO. generation from AMs correlated with neutrophil influx in bronchoalveolar lavage samples after asbestos inhalation or bleomycin instillation, another model of pulmonary fibrosis. To determine the molecular mechanisms and specificity of iNOS promoter activation by asbestos, RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage-like line, and AMs isolated from control rats were exposed to crocidolite asbestos in vitro. These cells showed increases in steady-state levels of iNOS mRNA in response to asbestos and more dramatic increases in both iNOS mRNA and immunoreactive protein after addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After transfection of an iNOS promoter/luciferase reporter construct, RAW 264.7 cells exposed to LPS, crocidolite asbestos and its nonfibrous analog, riebeckite, revealed increases in luciferase activity whereas cristobalite silica had no effects. Studies suggest that NO. generation may be important in cell injury and inflammation by asbestos.

Specific antibody synthesis in vitro. I. Technical considerations.

Previously described methods for measuring specific antibody production in vitro are complex and frequently require the addition of a non-specific mitogen and 2 or more separate steps including a lymphocyte culture and then an antibody assay. In this report we present further details regarding a 1-step, non-mitogen requiring assay for specific antibody synthesis combining microculture and enzyme-linked immunoassay techniques. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from recently immunized subjects are cultured in antigen-coated plastic wells and the specific antibody produced and adhered to the solid-phase antigen is measured in an enzyme-linked immunoassay. The production of specific antibody in vitro did not occur in lymphocyte preparations that were frozen, thawed and incubated, nor did it occur in cultures containing puromycin. T cell separation and remixture experiments indicated that T cells provide significant augmentation under the conditions of this assay. It is apparent that the antibody measured was synthesized in vitro and that cell-cell interactions are operant. The assay may prove useful in the assessment of immune competence and in determining in vitro the effect of certain biologic response modifiers on antibody production.

Cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of bis(platinum) complexes. A novel class of platinum complexes active in cell lines resistant to both cisplatin and 1,2-diaminocyclohexane complexes.

The in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity of bis(platinum) complexes of general formula [(PtX2-(L))2H2N(CH2)nNH2] (L = NH3, X = Cl or X2 = malonato or where L = py, X = Cl) is reported. Chloride complexes [(PtCl2(NH3]2H2N(CH2)nNH2] may exist as three possible isomers: those containing both coordination units in the cis configuration (2,2/c,c), both coordination units in the trans configuration (2,2/t,t), and the mixed cis,trans species (2,2/c,t), whose synthesis is reported here. The preparation of further complexes with sterically hindered diamine backbones, such as 2,5-dimethyl-2,5-hexanediamine, is exemplified. The biological activity of all complexes were compared. The 2,2/c,c complexes are particularly active in tissue culture in cells resistant both to cisplatin and its 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (dach) analogue. The inhibition of DNA synthesis in L1210/0 cells by the 2,2/c,c complexes is equivalent to that of cisplatin. The presence of at least one cis-[Pt(amine)2] unit appears necessary for activity in cell lines sensitive to cisplatin.

Heterosubstituted anthracene-9,10-dione analogues. The synthesis and antitumor evaluation of 5,8-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]naphtho[2,3-b] thiophene-4,9-diones.

A number of 5,8-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]naphtho[2,3-b]thiophene-4, 9-diones have been synthesized and evaluated for antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia both in vitro and in vivo. Two of the congeners exhibited in vivo activities quite comparable to that of mitoxantrone.

Synthesis and antineoplastic evaluations of 5,8-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]-1-azaanthracene-9,10-diones.

Several 5,8-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]-1-azaanthracene-9,10-diones have been synthesized and evaluated for antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia both in vitro and in vivo. Comparisons are made to the corresponding carbocyclic analogues. One of the aza analogues showed modest in vivo activity.

Synthesis and antitumor evaluations of symmetrically and unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthracene-9,10-diones and 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]-5,8-dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-diones.

The ipso bis displacements of fluoride from 1,4-difluoroanthracene-9,10-dione (3) and 1,4-difluoro-5,8-dihydroxyanthracene-9,10-dione (4) by excess of a diamine (or a monoamine) in pyridine at room temperature lead to the symmetrically substituted 1,4-bis-substituted analogues 5 and 6, respectively. The ipso monodisplacements of fluoride from 3 and 4 can be accomplished by treatment with less than 1 molar equiv of a diamine (or a monoamine) to yield 7 and 8, respectively. Treatment of 7 or 8 with a different diamine leads to the unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthracene-9,10-diones 9 and 10, respectively. Many of the synthetic unsymmetrical analogues have been evaluated for their antitumor activity against L1210 in vitro and in vivo. Cross resistance of analogue 10a with mitoxantrone (2) and doxorubicin was evaluated against MDR lines in vitro against human colon carcinoma LOVO and its subline resistant to DOXO (LOVO/DOXO). Potential mechanisms for the observed cytotoxicity are presented and discussed.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of new platinum complexes.

A new type of antitumor platinum complex has been prepared and examined for antitumor activity against L1210 leukemia both in vitro and in vivo. The coordination environment of platinum in these complexes consists of three anionic chloride ions and a positively charged amine. The positive charge is introduced by monoprotonation or monoalkylation of a diamine. Platinum(IV) derivatives have been prepared for several of the complexes, and a water-soluble sulfate derivative has been prepared for one of them. Several of these complexes exhibit significant in vitro activity, and trichloro(3-aminoquinuclidinium)platinum(II) (QTP) exhibits significant in vivo activity as well. An increase in life span of approximately 40% has been observed using QTP. QTP is toxic at doses slightly in excess of effective doses.

Synthesis and antitumor activities of unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthracene-9,10-diones and related systems.

A number of unsymmetrically substituted 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthracene-9,10-diones have been synthesized and evaluated for their antitumor activity against L1210 in vitro and in vivo. The high activity of several compounds observed in vitro was not paralleled by comparable activity in vivo. The activities of the substituted 1,4-bis[(aminoalkyl)amino]anthracene-9,10-diones as inhibitors of cell growth were generally much higher than those of the related 1-[(aminoalkyl)amino]-4-methoxyanthracene-9,10-diones, and this correlated with the relative abilities of compounds of the two types to interact with calf thymus DNA.