Antiproliferative Activity and Mechanism of Action of Fatty Acid Derivatives of Arabinosylcytosine (ara‐C) in Leukemia and Solid Tumor Cell Lines

Resistance to, the hydrophilic drug ara‐C, might be meditated by decreased membrane transport. Lipophillic prodrugs were synthesized to facilitate uptake. These compounds were equally active as ara‐C, while the compounds with the shortest fatty‐acid group and highest number of double bonds were the more active. These compounds also show a better retention profile, their effect is retained longer than for ara‐C.