Antitumor activity of trans-bis(salicylaldoximato)copper(II): a novel antiproliferative metal complex.

trans-Bis(salicylaldoximato)copper(II) (CuSAO2), the parent compound of a new group of antiproliferative copper(II) complexes, was studied in vivo. It had marked antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma in NMRI mice. Survival was considerably increased, and, in some cases, total cures were encountered. No activity against leukemia L1210 was found in female DBA/2J mice, although CuSAO2 is equally effective against L1210 and Ehrlich carcinoma cells in vitro. The side effects of CuSAO2 included weight loss, weakness, acrodynia, and blindness; all of these side effects were transient.