Oxyphenisatine (Oxyphenisatin), along with related bisacodyl, sodium picosulfate, and phenolphthalein, isa precursor of oxyphenisatine, which has anticancer activity. Oxyphenisatine is often used as a laxative and can cause liver damage when used long-term.

Oxyphenisatin exhibits antiproliferative properties. Oxyphenisatin acetate (OXY, NSC 59687) functions as the pro-drug for oxyphenisatin. OXY suppresses the growth of breast cancer cell lines MCF7, T47D, HS578T, and MDA-MB-468 (IC 50 =0.8, 0.6, 2.1, 1.8 μM). This impact is linked to specific inhibition of translation, accompanied by swift phosphorylation of the nutrient-sensing eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) kinases, GCN2, and PERK.[1]

Toxicity studies indicate that mice exhibit tolerance to IP administration of OXY at 300 mg/kg once daily or 200 mg/kg twice daily. The administration of OXY at 300 mg/kg IP once daily for 10 days leads to noticeably smaller tumors from day 33 to day 52.[1]