Actinogan: a new antitumor agent obtained from Streptomyces. I. Chemical and biological properties.

Production and isolation methods of a new antitumor agent obtained from a Strep tomyces culture are described. This water-soluble amorphous solid, which has been named actinogan, is insoluble in organic solvents and can be precipitated by acetone. It has a high molecular weight and by hydrolysis yields carbohydrate and amino acid residues. Isolation was accomplished by using Sarcoma 180 tumor inhibition as an assay, since the agent failed to demonstrate significant in vitro activity against bac teria, yeast, or protozoa and had only limited cytotoxicity for mammalian cells.