Influence of Daunorubicin on the Survival of X-irradiated Mammalian Cells

Summary

Incubation with daunorubicin at concentrations having low toxicity decreases the survival of rat hepatoma (H₄) cells irradiated in vitro with X-rays or γ-rays. The radiosensitivity is modified whether the cells are incubated with the drug for 1 hour prior to or immediately after irradiation. The decrease in the D₀ is greater in the case of plateau cells than in the case of exponentially growing cells. The repair of sublethal damage is not influenced by the drug. However daunorubicin inhibits the repair of potentially lethal damage.