PREVENTION OF CARCINOGENICITY OF ANTICANCER DRUGS BY METALLOTHIONEIN INDUCTION

We examined the efficacy of metallothionein induction in the preventio n of the carcinogenic action of cis-platinum and melphalan administere d repeatedly to mice over a relatively long period. The increased pulm onary metallothionein induced by bismuth or zinc compounds during the period of chemotherapy with cis-platinum or melphalan protected the mi ce from carcinogenesis of these drugs in the lung. These results sugge sted the efficacy of metallothionein inducers in suppression of carcin ogenicity considered as a secondary effect of anticancer agents in can cer chemotherapy.