Effects of isomeric aryldimethyl-triazenes on Lewis lung carcinoma growth and metastases in mice

The effects of the ortho and para isomers of aryldimethyltriazeno carboxylic and benzensulfonic acids and amides have been examined in mice bearing subcutaneous Lewis lung carcinoma. The toxicity of these compounds varies widely and does not correlate with the effects on tumor progression. The growth of subcutaneous primary tumor is unaffected or only marginally inhibited by all the tested compounds, while a marked depression in the formation of spontaneous lung metastasis is observed, with the exception of the sodium salt of the ortho benzensulfonic acid. The compounds showing the greatest activity on metastasis are the hydrosoluble salts of the ortho and para carboxylic acid and the para sulfonamido derivative, indicating that, in addition to the activity reported for the potassium salt of the para carboxylic acid, also its ortho isomer and the para sulfonamido derivative possess selective and pronounced antimetastatic effects. No correlation can be found between the reported effects on tumor progression and physicochemical parameters of the triazenes tested.