CHROMOSOME-DAMAGE INDUCED BY CARBOPLATIN (CBDCA)

The chromosome damage induced by carboplatin (CBDCA) was evaluated in vitro. In human lymphocytes 5 mu g/ml CBDCA produced a 7-fold increase in the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and a 3-fold inc rease in the number of cells with structural abnormalities compared wi th the control. Likewise, at this highest dose a significant increase was induced in the value of micronuclei (MN) and an important delay in the lymphocyte cycle progression was observed. In Chinese hamster ova ry (CHO) cells, CBDCA showed a significant increase in chromosome aber rations (CA) at the doses assayed. The increase of SCE, CA and MN by C BDCA remained much lower than that produced by mitomycin C (positive c ontrol). The results suggest that CBDCA is a DNA-damaging drug with si milar behaviour as an alkylating agent.