Relationship between cytotoxicity and DNA damage in mammalian cells treated with anthracenedione derivatives.

The effects of two anthracenedione derivatives on in vitro cell survival and DNA of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were investigated. The two drugs studied were 1,4-dihydroxy-5,8-bis-(2-[2-hydroxyethyl)amino)ethylamino)-9,10-anthracenedione (DHAQ, NSC No. 279836) and 1,4-bis-(2-[2-hydroxyethyl)-amino)ethylamino)-9,10-anthracenedione (HAQ, NSC No. 287513). DHAQ was 100-fold more potent in reducing cell survival than HAQ. DNA strand breaks were assayed by alkaline elution. DHAQ (10 ng/ml) caused more strand breakage than 1000 ng/ml HAQ. This difference correlates well with their differences in ability to kill cells.