A 51-year-old man was fighting for his life after being stabbed in the chest and slashed on the shoulder in the Mission district Wednesday, police said.

Police arrested a 48-year-old woman they believe carried out the vicious attack in the 500 block of South Van Ness Avenue, between 16th and 17th streets, around 10:50 p.m.

A motive for the attack was not immediately known.

The victim is being treated at San Francisco General Hospital.

maldax@sfexaminer.com