Potentiation of doxorubicin cytotoxicity by (+)-1,2-bis-(3,5-dioxopiperazinyl-1-yl) propane (ICRF-187) in human leukemic HL-60 cells.

The bisdioxopiperazine propane, ICRF-187, has been reported to potentiate doxorubicin cytotoxicity in certain tumor cell lines; however, the mechanism of this interaction is not known. In order to define the mechanism of this interaction, we examined the effects of ICRF-187 on doxorubicin cytotoxicity, free radical formation, and drug accumulation in human leukemia HL-60 cells. Studies show that ICRF-187 synergistically potentiated doxorubicin cytotoxicity in HL-60 cells. This potentiation of doxorubicin cytotoxicity by ICRF-187 appeared to result from enhanced drug dependent free radical formation without effecting doxorubicin uptake in HL-60 cells.