Cisplatin and carboplatin mediated release of cytolytic factors in murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro

The anticancer drugs cisplatin and carboplatin have been shown to activate murine peritoneal macrophages in vivo and in vitro. These activated macrophages have enhanced tumoricidal activity mediated by extension and contact formation with the tumor cells leading to an increase and transfer of lysosomes with eventual lysis of the tumor cells. Cisplatin (10 micrograms/ml) or carboplatin (50 micrograms/ml) for 2 and 24 h treatment of macrophages in vitro, in addition, show a significant increase in the release of various cytolytic factors, like hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, interleukin-1 alpha, lysozyme and beta-N-hexoseaminidase, that are also responsible for the destruction of tumor cells.