Main targets of tetraaza macrocyclic copper complex on L1210 murine leukemia cells

Several metal complex agents have already been introduced into clinical tumor therapy and others are subject of antitumor studies. In this study we focused on the tetraaza macrocyclic copper complex (Cu(TAAB)Cl-2). We studied the influence of the substance on cell growth, cell cycle, membrane integrity, necrosis, apotosis and glutathione level on the leukemic cell line L1210 in 1-day (22 h) and 3-day (72 h) experiments. The metal complex shows a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect, without affecting cell cycle phases. The present results confirm that copper complex can damage plasmatic membranes and trigger apoptosis, and that after treatment of leukemic cells with the copper complex, glutathione levels were increased. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.