Synthesis and anticarcinogenic activity of 5-fluorouracil-1-acetic acid complexes with rare earths

Abstract Thirteen new solid complexes of 5-fluorouracilacetic acid (FAA) with rare earth metals (RE) have been synthesized. Elemental analysis, IR, UV spectra, TG-DTA, conductance measurements and 1H NMR spectra have been used to characterise them. The general formula of the complexes is Ln (FAA)3·2H2O (Ln = La → Yb, Pm not included). The anticarcinogenic activity of La(FAA)3·2H2O was tested. The results obtained showed that the survival period of mice which had been transplanted with ascites carcinoma (HepA) and then treated with the La complex can be prolonged to 235% of the control but the ligand alone snowed little anticarcinogenic activity. Some 42% of EC cancer cell growth can be inhibited by the La complex. The LD50 is 500 mg kg−1.