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N-Methylmelamines, a Unique Class of Anti-Tumour Agents?

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Triazenes

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Abstract

N-methylmelamines have been investigated as potential anti-tumour agents for nearly forty years (Fig. 1). The parent compound, hexamethylmelamine (HMM) was first synthesised in 1951 in the search for synthetic resins and fibres (1). It was shown at the time that HMM and N2,N4,N6-trihydroxymethylmelamine were cytotoxic versus the Walker 256 tumour in the rat (2,3). However, HMM was not tested in phase I trials until 1965 in which anti-tumour activity was observed against ovarian and lung cancer (4). Nausea and vomiting were dose limiting, additional toxicities being neuropathy and myelosuppression as confirmed by a subsequent study (5). Phase II studies were carried out in the early 1970’s and demonstrated broad spectrum anti-tumour activity (6,7).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Drug Development Section, The Institute of Cancer Research, Block E, 15 Cotswold Road, Belmont, Sutton, Surrey, SM2 5NG, UK

    I. R. Judson

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto di Farmacologia, Università di Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    Tullio Giraldi

  2. Toxicology Unit, Medical Research Council, Woodmansterne Road, SM5 4EF, Carshalton, Surrey, UK

    Thomas A. Connors

  3. Divisione di Oncologia Medica, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Giuseppe Cartei

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Judson, I.R. (1990). N-Methylmelamines, a Unique Class of Anti-Tumour Agents?. In: Giraldi, T., Connors, T.A., Cartei, G. (eds) Triazenes. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3832-5_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3832-5_14

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