Antioxidants in purification, stabilization, and formulation of the antineoplastic agent 6-selenoguanosine

6-Selenoguanosine (NSC 137679) was stablized and formulated as a lyophilized parenteral paroduct using ascorbic acid as an antioxidant. In addition to preventing the oxidation of 6-selenoguanosine to the corresponding diselenide in aqueous solution, ascorbic acid reduced the diselenide already in the bulk drug. Dithioerythritol and sodium bisulfite also were evaluated as antioxidants. Dithioerythritol had effects similar to ascorbic acid, while sodium bisulfite reacted rapidly with 6-selenoguanosine.