Cytotoxic activity against a series of human tumour cell lines of some diorganotin(iv) 1,2-ethylenediamine N,N'-diacetates, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- and N-(carbamoylmethyl)-iminodiacetates, and ortho-aminobenzoates.

The di-n-butyltin(IV) derivatives of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)- and N-(carbamoylmethyl)- iminodiacetic acid, compounds 1 and 2, the di-n-butyltin-, di-n-octyltin and dimethyltin-(IV) derivatives of 1,2-ethylene diamine N,N'-diacetic acid, compounds 3, 4 and 5, and di-n-butyltin bis-o-aminobenzoate, compound 6, were tested in vitro at the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA, for cytotoxic activity against a series of human tumor cell lines. Compounds 1 and 2 score globally satisfactorily since four of the five relevant selectivity or sensitivity parameters [DGI50, DTGI or DLC50 greater than 50, DH and MGDH greater than 75)] are statistically significant; compounds 4 and 6 score satisfactorily for only three of these parameters and compound 3, for only two. Compound 5, the dimethyltin derivative, is inactive.