The antitumor drug, cis diamminedichloro-platinum, inhibits trans plasmalemma electron transport in HeLa cells.

Transplasmalemma electron transport which stimulates the growth of HeLa cells is inhibited by the antitumor drug cis diammine dichloro platinum II at concentrations which correlate with cytotoxic effects. The less cytotoxic trans diammine dichloro platinum II has very little effect on the transmembrane dehydrogenase. This selectivity contrasts with the similarity of these compounds in binding to DNA. We propose that part of the selective antitumor action of the cis compound can be based on its inhibition of the transplasmalemma dehydrogenase which stimulates growth.