DNA LESIONS IN HUMAN NEOPLASTIC-CELLS AND CYTOTOXICITY OF 5-FLUOROPYRIMIDINES

  • 1 August 1986
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 46  (8) , 3866-3870
Abstract
We have examined the induction of alkali-labile regions in DNA of human neoplastic cells treated with 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorodeoxyuridine. 5-Fluorouracil induces DNA lesions by two mechanisms: incorporation of drug into DNA and a second mechanism not involving the incorporation. The second mechanism is seen in cells treated with aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase .alpha., to stop the movement of the DNA replication forks. 5-Fluorodeoxyuridine is not incorporated into DNA of these cells; only the second mechanism of induction of alkali-labile DNA is detected. The second mechanism is in all probability due to inefficient DNA repair of normally occurring defects in purine and pyrimidine residues. Furthermore there is a correlation between increasing levels of alkali-labile regions in the DNA and cytotoxicity of the drugs. This may be one explanation for the cytocidal effects of 5-fluoropyrimidines.