A Triphenyltin(IV) Nicotinate Derivative - Synthesis and Toxicity Towards Different Tumour and Normal Cell Lines

[SnPh3(DMNI)] (1), (2,6-dimethoxynicotinic acid (DMNIH)) was prepared by the reaction of SnPh3Cl with DMNIH. Molecular structure of 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The cytotoxic activity of 1 was tested against tumour cell lines human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa, human myelogenous leukemia K562, human malignant melanoma Fem-x and normal immunocompetent cells, non-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC-PHA) and with phytohemagglutinin stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC+PHA) showing a very high antiproliferative activity against tumour cell lines with IC50 values (after 72 h of treatment) in the range of 46-65 nM. This toxicity becomes lower against normal immunocompetent cells (IC50 values in the range of 88-148 nM) indicating some degree of selectivity towards cancer cell lines.