In the Search for New Anticancer Drugs, IV+ Antitumor Activity of Seleno-TEPA

In order to test the effect of selenium on the anticancer activity of alkylating drugs, Seleno-TEPA (4), the selenium analog of the clinically used Thio-TEPA (1) was tested in vivo against the lymphocytic P 388 and lymphoid L1210 murine leukemias. Compound 4 is more active against P 388 leukemia than against L1210, and appears to be active over a narrower concentration range than Thio-TEPA (1). Compound 4 is less active against P 388 leukemia than 1, as evidenced by the T/C values of 164 for 4 and 239 for 1 at a dose of 4.2 mg/kg. The activity of 4 was also evaluated on the HL60 and K 562 human cell lines. Under the conditions of the cell colony assay technique, Seleno-TEPA (4) is less effective than Thio-TEPA (1).