Activity of N-[N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N'-nitrosocarbamoyl]-alanine and derivatives against transplantable adenocarcinomata of the mouse colon (MAC).

The anti-neoplastic activity of N-[N'-(2-chloroethyl)-N-nitrosocarbamoyl(CNC)]-alanine, CNC-alanyl-alanine, CNC-alanine-methylamide and CNC-glycine-methylamide was examined in murine transplantable colon tumours (MAC). The methylamide derivatives were highly active against a solid adenocarcinoma (MAC 13) and an ascitic adenocarcinoma (MAC 15 A). CNC-alanyl-alanine was also highly active against MAC 15 A. Responses of the three latter agents against the ascitic tumour were better than for any previously tested drugs including the nitrosoureas but their eventual usefulness cannot be determined without further toxicological studies.