Comparison of mutagenicity, antitumor activity, and chemical properties of selected nitrosoureas and nitrosoamides.

A number of nitrosoureas and nitrosoamides have been compared with respect to mutagenicity for Salmonella typhimurium, in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo toxicity and antitumor activity against murine L1210 leukemia, and chemical properties. Despite chemical similarities between the nitrosoureas and nitrosoamides, they show important differences in biological activity. Some of the nitrosoureas are very active antitumor agents, and they are less mutagenic than are the corresponding nitrosoamides, which lack antitumor activity.