Studies on the mechanism of action and anticancer activity of N-methylformamide.

Abstract

1. The inhibition of E. coli by formamide was prevented by 2,6-diaminopurine or 2,6-diaminopurine-riboside. Adenine prevented reversal of formamide by diaminopurine. Similar results have been obtained with urethan. 2. Urethan-resistant, formamide-resistant, and N-methylformamide-resistant lines of E. coli were all cross-resistant. 3. It has been observed that N-methylformamide increased the life span of mice with L1210 leukemia. Urethan failed to affect the life span of mice with this leukemia. 4. N-methylformamide inhibited the growth of the solid tumors Sarcoma 180 and Adenocarcinoma E 0771.