Genotoxicity of adriamycin in human cell lines differing in antioxidant enzymes activity.

Genotoxicity of adriamycin in human cell lines was investigated by using a micronucleus assay. The result obtained was negative: the cells treated showed no increase in micronuclei. The chromosome aberration study with adriamycin indicated that the number of aberrant cells, high immediately after treatment, decreased to nearly the control level in 24 h of postincubation, probably as a result of the DNA repair process. Experiments with caffeine--a DNA repair inhibitor--indicated an increase micronuclei in the cells treated with adriamycin and caffeine together. The results obtained suggest that, in a human cells, adriamycin--induced DNA damages are quickly repaired to prevent micronuclei formation.