Anticancer Agents and Antitrypanosomiasis Activity in Mice

Of 303 compounds (66 active against cancer and 237 inactive against cancer) obtained from the Drug Synthesis and Chemistry Branch, Developmental Therapeutics Program, Division of Cancer Treatment, National Cancer institute, Bethesda, Maryland, 25 were found to be active against Trypanosoma rhodesiense infections of ICR/Ha Swiss mice. Fifteen of these 25 compounds also had anticancer properties. The percentage of anticancer compounds found to have antitrypanosomiasis properties was 22.7. This percentage compares with 6% antitrypanosomiasis compounds among compounds selected by other methods.