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Influence of chemotherapeutic agents on superoxide anion production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Influence of chemotherapeutic agents on superoxide anion production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Authors :
Hara, Nobuyuki
Ichinose, Yukito
Motohiro, Akira
Kuda, Tomoharu
Aso, Hiroshi
Ohta, Mitsuo
Source :
Cancer. August 15, 1990, Vol. 66 Issue 4, p684, 5 p.
Publication Year :
1990

Abstract

One of the most common side effects of anticancer drugs is the suppression of the immune system, which may lead to infection as a serious complication of treatment. A great deal of research has explored the effect of chemotherapeutic agents on polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs), phagocytic white blood cells which can eat and destroy bacteria. Much of the research has been contradictory, however, and few conclusions have been drawn. Since the ability of PMNLs to kill bacteria in an experimental assay may be affected by many laboratory conditions, an attempt was made to examine a fundamental characteristic of the cells that is critical to their ability to destroy bacteria. Polymorphonuclear cells generate quantities of the superoxide anion, which is an oxygen molecule with an added negative charge. This ion is highly reactive chemically and can literally ''burn'' the proteins and other constituents of a target organism. Eleven chemotherapeutic drugs were incubated with PMNLs prior to the assay of the ability to produce superoxide. Only predonine did not suppress superoxide production. The remainder, which included commonly used anticancer agents cisplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, and etoposide, suppressed superoxide production, and may thus exert a similar effect when administered to patients. Curiously, the suppressive effects of cisplatin were reduced when the cells were incubated in the drug for a longer time; there is no obvious explanation for this phenomenon. While it is not known in what way chemotherapeutic drugs might influence the production of superoxide anions, the phenomenon must be considered as a possible mechanism for the increased susceptibility to infection observed among patients undergoing chemotherapy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Details

ISSN :
0008543X
Volume :
66
Issue :
4
Database :
Gale General OneFile
Journal :
Cancer
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
edsgcl.8905544