Effects of various antineoplastic agents on-2

Abstract

An established human melanoma cell line was treated with severa1 concentrations of three antineoplastic drugs: melphalan (0.01 6, 0.032, 0.16 pn), CCNU (1- (2-chloroethy1)-3-cyclohexyl1-- nitrosourea) (0.04, 0.21, 0.42 pM) and 4-OHA (4-hydroxyanisole) (4.01 x 1 0-4, 1 . 2 0~1 0 -2~.,4 ~ pM), and the effects on cell growth and viability were compared. 24 hours after treatment, 4-OHA ( 1 ~ ~ ~ = 2 . 4 ~ 1 0 - ~ pM) was more cytotoxic than melphalan (ID50=0.016 pM) and CCNU (ID50=0.21 pM). However. after 96 hours exposure, the most effective drug was CCNU (growth rate = -1.277), which caused the death of the culture. This was followed by melphalan (growth rate = - 1.024) and finally 4-OHA (growth rate= -0.69). Similar ultrastructural cell injuries were observed after the use of the three drugs: the dilation of endoplasmic reticulum vesicles and the nuclear membrane; mitochondria swelling; and the existence of lamellar structures and cytoplasmic vacuoles.