BENZOYL PEROXIDE ACTS AS A PROMOTER OF RADIATION-INDUCED MALIGNANT TRANSFORMATION IN-VITRO

The experiments reported here demonstrate that benzoyl peroxide (BP) c an promote radiation induced transformation in vitro. BP is shown to b e capable of generating free radicals, determined by the kinetics of h ydroxylation as measured by fluorescence of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid . Although the mechanisms involved in the BP enhancement of radiation transformation are unknown, we hypothesize that lipid peroxidation pro duced by benzoyl radicals in the vicinity of membrane associated unsat urated lipids could contribute to the promotion of transformation in v itro. (C) 1995 Academic Press. Inc.