Adriamycin and daunomycin generate reactive oxygen compounds in
erythrocytes
CA Henderson, EN Metz, SP Balcerzak and AL Sagone
Adriamycin and daunomycin produce dose-related cardiac toxicity that may be
related to oxygen radicals. Addition of these compounds to human
erythrocyte suspensions resulted in stimulation of hexose monophosphate
shunt activity that was markedly impaired in the absence of oxyhemoglobin.
Evidence for generation of hydrogen peroxide by these compounds was
provided by oxidation of reduced glutathione, by 14C- formate oxidation,
and by the catalase-aminotriazole trapping technique. These experiments
indicate that Adriamycin and daunomycin interact with oxyhemoglobin to
generate reactive oxygen metabolites. A similar interaction with
oxymyoglobin may occur in the heart and produce oxygen radicals that injure
cardiac myocytes.
Volume 52,
Issue 5,
pp. 878-885,
11/01/1978
Copyright © 1978 by The American Society of Hematology
