Potential coanthracyclinic activity of pyridylmethylene-2-indolinones.

The paper reports the cytotoxic activity of pyridylmethylene-2-indolinones previously described as cardiotonics and the synthesis of three analogs of the most potent cytotoxic agent. Some of these compounds could be useful, when associated with anthracyclines, to reduce the cardiotoxicity of these potent antitumor drugs.