Synthesis and Antitumor Activity of 20-O-Linked Succinate-Based Camptothecin Ester Derivatives

A series of new 20-O-linked succinate-based camptothecin ester derivatives were synthesized and their cytotoxicities were tested on five human cancer cell lines by MTT assay. All the derivatives showed moderate antitumor activity in vitro, and they were 20-to-several thousand-fold less toxic than their parent drug.