Effects of alkylating agents on the DNA replication of cultured Yoshida sarcoma cells

Chemotherapeutic drugs in pregnancy

Chemotherapy may be indicated for the treatment of cancer during pregnancy. The decision to use chemotherapy significantly impacts the pregnancy, and in turn the pregnancy may affect the treatment options available to patients with cancer. This review provides information about the effects of chemotherapeutic agents in pregnancy, taking into account both the mother and the fetus. For convenience, the agents are divided into categories based upon class and mechanism of action. These include alkylating agents, antimetabolites, nucleoside analogs, topoisomerase I inhibitors, topisomerase II inhibitors, vinca alkaloids, taxanes, and biologics such as signaling and growth factor blocking agents.

Reproductive death of Chinese hamster V79 cells after exposure to chemical inhibitors of DNA synthesis

1. The results of this study have contributed to the definition of three categories of chemical inhibitors of DNA replication in mammalian cells. 2. Inhibitors of replicon cluster initiation [4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide (4-NQO), etoposide (VP-16), teniposide (VM-26), amsacrine (m-AMSA), N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrozoguanidine (MNNG), cis-Pt(II)diammine dichloride (cis-PDD)], which needed similar doses to produce a slow and persistent (up to 4 hr) inhibition of DNA synthesis, followed by significant cell killing. 3. Inhibitors of DNA replication by indirect action [3-aminobenzamide [correction of 3-aminobezamide] (3-AB), cycloheximide (CHX), puromycin (PRC), bisbenzimide Hoechst No. 33258 (H-33258]), that showed reduced cytotoxic effects, and caused a slow (60 min) and reversible inhibition of DNA synthesis. 4. Inhibitors of formation and/or polymerization of deoxyribonucleotides [5-aminouracil (5-AU), bisbenzimide Hoechst No. 33342 (H-33342)], which induced a fast (20 min) and reversible suppression of DNA replication, associated with limited cell killing.