Selective cytotoxicity of certain 9-substituted ellipticines for leukemia cells in a variety of leukemia cell cultures

Certain 9-substituted ellipticines, including 9-hydroxymethylellipticine, displayed selective in vitro cytotoxicity for leukemia cells in a variety of leukemia cell cultures. The selective cytotoxicity was apparent in all of the leukemia cell lines examined, which included CCRF-CEM, HL-60 (TB), K-562, MOLT-4, RPMI-8226, and SR cells.