Arylsulfonyl-N,N-diethyl-dithiocarbamates: a novel class of antitumor agents.

A series of alkyl/arylsulfonyl-N,N-diethyl-dithiocarbamates has been prepared by reaction of sodium N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate with alkyl/arylsulfonyl halides. The reactivity of these new derivatives against cysteine and glutathione has been investigated in order to identify derivatives that might label a critical cysteine residue of tubulin (Cys 239 of human beta2 tubulin chain). Some of the most reactive compounds showed moderate to powerful tumor growth inhibitory properties against several leukemia, non-small cell lung, ovarian, melanoma, colon, CNS, renal, prostate and breast cancer cell lines in vitro.