Cell cycle age response of 91 cells to 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and modification by α-difluoromethylornithine

Rolf Bjerkvig, Stina M. Oredsson, Laurence J. Marton, Margareta Linden, Dennis F. Deen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We have determined the cell cycle age response of 9L rat brain tumor cells to 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea using centrifugal elutriation to obtain populations of cells enriched in G1, S, and G2-M phases. While cells in all phases of the cell cycle were killed by 20 or 40 μm 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea, cells in G1and G2-M phases were more sensitive than cells in S phase. The differential sensitivity was more pronounced at the higher dose, which will markedly alter the distribution of cells through the cell cycle. In a clinical setting, this factor could affect the efficacy of either fractionated or multimodality protocols. Treatment with α-difluoromethylomithine, a polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor, potentiated the cytotoxic effects of 20 μm 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea against G1- and G2-M- but not against S-phase cells; however, at a higher dose of 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (40 μM), the cytotoxicity was potentiated for cells in all phases of the cell cycle. In α-difluoromethylomithine-treated cells, the phenomenon could be reversed by adding 1 mM putrescine 24 hr before treatment with 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. Therefore, the potentiation of 1, 3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea cytotoxicity appears to be related to polyamine depletion.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1497-1500
Number of pages4
JournalCancer Research
Volume43
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 1983
Externally publishedYes

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