Synthesis and antitumor activity of s-tetrazine derivatives

Fifty-five compounds of s-tetrazine derivative including hexahydro-, 1,6-dihydro, 1,4-dihydro-, 1,2-dihydro- and aromatic s-tetrazine were prepared. Their antitumor activities were evaluated in vitro by MTT method for P-388 cell and SRB method for A-549 cell. The results show that there are 9 compounds which in 10(-6) muM have more than 50% inhibition rate to A-549 cancer cell growth, and 7 compounds in 10(-6) muM have more than 50% inhibition rate to P-388 cancer cell growth. The IC50 of compound 3q for P-388, Bel-7402, MCF-7 and A-549 are 0.6 muM, 0.6 muM, 0.5 muM and 0.7 muM, respectively. So s-tetrazine derivative is a kind of compound which possesses potential antitumor activities and is worth to research further. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.