Evaluation of 2-(methylaminosulfonyl)-1-(arylsulfonyl)hydrazines as anticancer agents

Seven new 2-(methylaminosulfonyl)- 1-(arylsulfonyl)hydrazines were prepared and evaluated as potential antitumor agents in vivo against murine Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC). Borderline in vivo activity in EAC was exhibited by two compounds. All of them were screened in vitro against a battery of human tumor cell lines at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), USA. One of them, namely compound 2f(NSC No. 649 752) displayed highly significant specificity in two different cell lines as non-small cell lung cancer line HOP-18 and in CNS cancer line SNB-19. The compounds assessed in vitro for anti-HIV activity also at the NCI, however, have not reached the criteria of significant activity. The alkylating activity of the compounds was determined by measuring the absorbance of the alkylated product of 4-(4-nitrobenzyl)pyridine. It was found that they are capable of acting as chemical alkylating agents.