Cytotoxicity, qualitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR), and anti-tumor activity of bismuth dithiocarbamate complexes.

Bismuth dithiocarbamate complexes of general formula Bi(S(2)CNR(2))(3) demonstrate potent in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of seven human cancer cell lines; a structure-activity relationship has been established. Potency exhibited by the R=Et (2) derivative, for example, is unrivalled by standard cancer drugs with the exception of paclitaxel. In vivo studies indicate a significant anti-tumor effect exerted by (2) against both OVCAR-3, an ovarian cancer cell line, and HT-29, a colon carcinoma cell line.