Effect of N-acetylcysteine on the antiproliferative action of X-rays or bleomycin in cultured human lung tumor cells.
N-Acetylcysteine is currently being considered as a possible selective protector against pulmonary toxicity resulting from X-rays or chemotherapeutic treatment, but its clinical application awaits evidence that it does not interfere with the efficient killing of tumor cells. The capacity of N-acetylcysteine to protect against the antitumor activity of X-rays and of bleomycin was evaluated in a clonogenic cell-survival assay using SW-1573 human squamous lung carcinoma cells as a tumor model. Using the highest non-toxic dose of N-acetylcysteine (incubation for 2 days in the continuous presence of 10 mM) no effect on clonogenic cell killing by X-rays or bleomycin treatment could be detected, even though a twofold enhancement of endogenous glutathione was effectuated. Our data thus indicate that clinically relevant concentrations of N-acetylcysteine are incapable of protecting tumor cells against clonogenic killing by X-rays and by bleomycin.
Wanamarta
A H
AH
Institute of Human Genetics, Free University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
van Rijn
J
J
Blank
L E
LE
Haveman
J
J
van Zandwijk
N
N
Joenje
H
H
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
D001761:Bleomycin; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine