Antineoplastic and Cytotoxic Activities of Nickel(II) Complexes of Thiosemicarbazones.

Nickel(II) complexes of thiosemicarbazons were observed to be potent cytotoxic agents in human and rodent tissue cultured tumor cells. Each compound demonstrated a slightly different profile in the various histological types of tumors. The nickel complex of Appip demonstrated the most potent in vivo activity in the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma. This agent selectively inhibited L1210 DNA and purine syntheses, and DNA polymerase alpha, PRPP-amido transferase, IMP-dehydrogenase, dihydrofolate reductase, TMP-kinase and thymidylate synthetase activities. L1210 DNA strand scission was evident and DNA viscosity was reduced after 24 hr incubation. The nickel complexes were not L1210 DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors.