GLUTATHIONE AND GLUTATHIONE LINKED ENZYMES IN HUMAN SMALL-CELL LUNG-CANCER CELL-LINES

Glutathione levels and several glutathione-linked enzyme activities ha ve been variably correlated with cisplatin chemosensitivity in culture d neoplastic cells. In order to determine the relative contribution of the glutathione-linked enzymes towards mediating inherent cisplatin r esistance in cancer cells, we have measured the chemosensitivity to ci splatin, glutathione levels and activities of glutathione S-transferas e, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glucose-6-phospha te dehydrogenase in 8 cultured human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cel l lines with widely differing cisplatin sensitivities. Of these parame ters, only glutathione S-transferase activity correlated with degree o f cisplatin resistance in a linear fashion.