Synthesis, acute toxicity and chemotherapeutic anti-cancer activities of a new tripeptidic mustard

A new antitumor agent having the chemical composition of 3-(p-fluorophenyl)-Lalanyl-3-[m-bis-(2-chloroethyl)aminophenyl]-L- alanyl-L-methionine ethyl ester hydrochloride (PTT 119) was synthetized. It fundamental toxicological data in mice and rats were assessed; its antitumor activity was investigated by establishing in mice, inoculated with L 1210 leukemia or in AKR mice with spontaneous leukemia of viral origin, a significant increase in Mean Survival Time as well as a percent increase of Increased Life Span and of the number of survivors.