Effect of N-acetylcysteine on the antiproliferative action of X-rays or bleomycin in cultured human lung tumor cells

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 1989-08, Vol.115 (4), p.340-344
• Main Authors: WANAMARTA, A. H, VAN RIJN, J, BLANK, L. E. C. M, HAVEMAN, J, VAN ZANDWIJK, N, JOENJE, H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetylcysteine - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Bleomycin - pharmacology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cell Survival - radiation effects; Drug toxicity and drugs side effects treatment; Glutathione - analysis; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Radiation Tolerance - drug effects; Toxicity: respiratory system, ent, stomatology; Tumor Cells, Cultured - drug effects; Tumor Cells, Cultured - radiation effects
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00400960

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.