[Spergualin, a new antitumor antibiotic]

Spergualin is a new antitumor antibiotic which has a very unique structure. It was shown to have chemotherapeutic effects on mice inoculated with various mouse leukemias such as L-1210 (IMC), L-1210, P388, P815, C1489, EL4 and RL male 1. Among these, spergualin was especially effective against L-1210 (IMC) tumors, where the mice were completely cured at an appropriate drug dosage. These cured mice rejected the second challenge of L-1210, but not other tumors, indicating that specific immunity had been induced by spergualin. Preliminary data suggested that killer T cells were acting as effector cells. There was some correlation between the cytocidal activity of spergualin and the concentrations of amine oxidases in the serum. These results suggest that the induction of tumor-immunity plays an important role in the antitumor activity of spergualin.