Antitumor and antimitogenic properties of cis-dichloro(dipyridine)platinum(II).

Summary Cis-dichloro(dipyridine)platinum(II), an aryl congener of the totally inorganic antitumor compound cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II), was evaluated for pharmacological similarities to the inorganic complex. The parameters assessed were its effects on bacterial cytokinesis, on development of the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in vivo, on nucleic acid and protein synthesis in tumor cells in vitro, and on phytohemagglutinin-induced mitogenesis of human lymphocytes. The aryl derivative possessed actions similar to those of the inorganic species but was somewhat less potent. The merits of the organic derivative as a tool for studies of absorption, binding, distribution, and excretion by virtue of its amenability to tritium labeling were discussed.