alpha-Difluoromethylornithine-induced polyamine depletion of 9L tumor cells modifies drug-induced DNA cross-link formation

Depletion of intracellular levels of polyamines, which are believed to have a role in the intranuclear stabilization of DNA, alters the cytotoxicity of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II in 9L rat brain tumor cells. Alkaline elution techniques were used to show that polyamine depletion alters the number of DNA cross-links formed by these cytotoxic agents.