title: Inhibition of tumor cell growth in vitro by 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate (mesna) and other thiols.
abstract: 2-Mercaptoethanesulfonate (Mesna), which is used as a uroprotective agent during oxazaphosphorine treatment, was previously found to inhibit growth of several tumor cell lines in vitro. To test the possibility that this effect is due to the SH-group of mesna, other thiols have now been tested. It has been observed that L-cysteine, N-acetyl-L-cysteine and glutathione, on a molar basis, had effects similar to mesna on [3H]thymidine incorporations of several human tumor cell lines in vitro. The dose-response profiles were monophasic for some cell lines and biphasic for others. It is suggested that compounds with SH-groups, in relatively high concentrations, may be toxic for cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Radiumhemmet, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blomgren
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hallström
mesh_terms: D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D015080:Mesna / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D015080:Mesna