ADRIAMYCIN (ADM) INDUCED APOPTOSIS IN TRANSITIONAL-CELL CANCER (TCC) CELL-LINES ACCOMPANIED BY P21(WAF1 CIP1) INDUCTION/

Genotoxic stimuli, including anticancer drugs, induce apoptosis in can cer cells through increase of p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1), at least in part. B cl-2 and Bax modify this pathway or directly regulated by p53, Here we studied Adriamycin (ADM)-induced apoptosis in four human bladder canc er cell lines-in respect of p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1) and Bcl-2 family prote ins. After ADM, treatment bladder cancer cells underwent dose-dependen t cell death with typical morphologic features of apoptosis. Among fou r cell lines RT4 with wt p53, low ratio of Bcl-2 to Bar and induction of p21(WAF1/CIP1) after ADM treatment, was the most sensitive to induc tion of apoptosis. Thus, p53, p21(WAF1/CIP1), Bcl-2 and Bar status mig ht determine susceptibility of bladder cancer cells to ADM induced apo ptosis.