Nitrogen mustard derivatives of (1,4-benzoquinonyl) alkanoic acids as hypoxia-sensitive antitumour agents

Abstract

Zeneca has disclosed a series of nitrogen mustard derivatives of (1,4-benzoquinonyl) alkanoic acids linked by either an ester (WO9948857) or an amide (WO9948860) group. Both series of compounds were designed to release a nitrogen mustard DNA crosslinker specifically in low oxygen tension (hypoxic) tumour cells.

• antitumour agents
• cancer
• hypoxia
• nitrogen mustards
• prodrugs
• quinones