| abstract |
An anthraquinone compound as an anticancer compound is provided. The present invention relates to an anthraquinone compound of general formula (I) or a salt thereof (formula I), wherein R 1 to R 4 are H, C 1-4 alkyl, X 1 , —NHR O N, respectively. (R 5 ) 2 , selected from the group consisting of groups of formula (II), and when at least one of R 1 to R 4 is a group of formula (II), m is 0 or 1; n is 1 or 2; X 1 is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C 1-6 alkoxyl group, an aryloxy group or an acyloxy group; and X 2 is a halogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C 1-6 alkoxyl group, an aryloxy group or an acyloxy group. N-oxides are useful prodrugs that are selectively bioreduced in hypoxic tumors to the corresponding cyclic amine derivatives. Amine compounds are cytotoxic and can be used in cancer therapy as alkylating agents having topoisomerase II inhibitory activity. [Selection figure] None |