title: DNA reactivity and in vitro cytotoxicity of the novel antitumor agent 1,5,2,4-dioxadithiepane-2,2,4,4-tetraoxide (NSC-348948) in human embryo cells.
abstract: 1,5,2,4-Dioxadithiepane-2,2,4,4-tetraoxide (cyclic-SoSo) is structurally a novel synthetic compound but may functionally act as an alkylating agent. The effects of cyclic-SoSo on DNA were studied in IMR-90 and VA-13 human embryo cells by means of DNA alkaline elution analysis. In contrast to a number of bifunctional alkylating agents, cyclic-SoSo produced no DNA-DNA interstrand cross-links in either cell line, even at concentration which produced a greater than 3 log cell kill. At equimolar concentrations cyclic-SoSo induced DNA-protein cross-links in both cell lines to a similar extent. Frank DNA breaks and alkali-labile DNA lesions were detected in both cell lines. A greater quantity of strand breaks appeared in the IMR-90 than in the VA-13 cell line after exposure to cyclic-SoSo. However, cyclic-SoSo was more cytotoxic to the VA-13 cell line in vitro than to the IMR-90 cell line. Thus cyclic-SoSo may not be a typical bifunctional alkylating agent in that its mechanism of action does not appear to involve DNA interstrand cross-linking.
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013846:Thiepins / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011506:Proteins; D013846:Thiepins; D004247:DNA; C048244:cyclodisone