DNA-DNA interstrand crosslinking by dimethyanesulphonic acid esters. Correlation with cytotoxicity and antitumour activity in the Yoshida lymphosarcoma model and relationship to chain length.

Members of the homologous series of nine antitumour dimethanesulphonic acid esters, with the exception of ethylene dimethanesulphonate (EDMS), were found to cause DNA-DNA interstrand crosslinking in cells derived from the transplantable rodent Yoshida lymphosarcoma. The ability of the series to induce interstrand crosslinks was compared with in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumour activity and is discussed in relation to their chain length and ability to span critical target distances in DNA.