PLATINUM-DNA ADDUCTS ASSAYED IN LEUKOCYTES OF PATIENTS WITH GERM-CELLTUMORS MEASURED BY ATOMIC ABSORBENCY SPECTROMETRY AND ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY

Background. Platinum-DNA adducts can be measured in peripheral blood c ells, and high adduct levels have previously been correlated with favo rable clinical response to platinum-based therapy in patients with ger m cell tumors and ovarian cancer. Methods. To evaluate the relationshi p between platinum-DNA adducts and clinical response to chemotherapy, 36 patients with germ cell tumors treated with cisplatin-based chemoth erapy had platinum-DNA adducts assayed in leukocytes by atomic absorpt ion spectrometry (AAS) and cisplatin-DNA enzyme-linked immunosorbent a ssay (ELISA). Three chemotherapy regimens were involved: cisplatin and etoposide (Regimen A); carboplatin and etoposide (Regimen B); and cyc lophosphamide, vinblastine, dactinomycin, bleomycin, and cisplatin [VA B-6] with or without high dose carboplatin plus etoposide plus autolog ous bone marrow rescue (Regimen C). Blood samples were drawn before an d after each cycle of chemotherapy.