Antitumour activity of sphingoid base adducts of phenethyl isothiocyanate

N-(N′-Phenethylthiocarbamoyl) derivatives of sphingosine and sphinganine were prepared. They had antitumour activity: GC50 values of 0.64±0.02 μM (N=18) and 1.6±0.01 μM (N=18), respectively, with human leukaemia 60 cells in vitro. This antitumour effect may contribute to the suppression of carcinogenesis associated with dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate and sphingolipid bases.