The present invention relates to novel 2-aminocarbonyl-1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)hydrazines and 2-aminocarbonyl-1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-methylhydrazines, and their use to treat malignant tumors. The agents are especially useful in the treatment of animal and human cancers. Two preferred agents in this class, especially for use in the treatment of tumors are 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-(2-chloroethyl)aminocarbonylhydrazine and 1,2-bis(methylsulfonyl)-1-(2-chloroethyl)-2-methylaminocarbonylhydrazine. These agents are characterized by the following: they are incapable of undergoing inactivation by the denitrosation mechanism proposed for the inactivation of the CNUs; they are incapable of generating a hydroxyethylating species by the mechanism proposed for the CNUs; and they are capable of chloroethylation or methylation and carbamoylation.
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