Biological evaluation of mitoxantrone dihydrochloride synthesized by a new method. I. Acute toxicity and antitumor activity in mouse transplantable tumor systems.

A high antitumor activity of mitoxantrone dihydrochloride, synthesized according to a new method, was demonstrated in mice with i.p. growing tumors: P388 leukemia in CD2F1 and B16 melanoma in B6D2F1 hybrid strains. The preparation was ineffective when administered to mice with subcutaneously implanted solid tumors: Lewis Lung carcinoma, 16/C mammary adenocarcinoma or B16 melanoma. This finding is consistent with data reported by others for mitoxantrone produced by American Cyanamid Co. Acute toxicity of the tested compound was evaluated after single i.p. or i.v. administration to male and female CD2F1 and B6D2F1 mice.