BROMODEOXYURIDINE-LABELED APOPTOSIS AFTER TREATMENT WITH ANTIMETABOLITES IN 2 MURINE TUMORS AND IN SMALL-INTESTINAL CRYPTS

Antimetabolites are S-phase specific anticancer drugs. Administration of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) to tumour bearing mice was followed by t reatment with cytosine arabinoside or hydroxyurea. Anti-BrdUrd immunoc ytochemistry visualised susceptible tumour and intestinal crypt cells at electron microscope level, showing unequivocally that cells that we re in S-phase at the time of administration of the drugs subsequently died by apoptosis.