Enhancement of sister-chromatid exchanges by tumour promoters

The effect of the tumour promoters TPA, phenobarbitone and saccharin on the production of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) was studied. TPA produced a small but significant increase of SCE in Chinese hamster cell lines V-79 and CHO, and in a hybrid clone formed by fusion of CHO with rat liver epithelial cells. The enhancement of SCE by TPA was not affected by the type of culture medium, heat-inactivated bovine serum, or the batch of TPA. In the presence of exogenous L-cysteine the enhancement of SCE was reduced. TPA also increase the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose by the cells, to an extent similar to that of the SCE enhancement. This enhancement of SCE by TPA may be explained partly through the formation of free radicals, and partly through alterations in the cell-surface membrane and/or a transient delay in the cell-cycle progression. The other tumour promoters, phenobarbitone and saccharin, also enhanced both SCE and the uptake of 2-deoxyglucose in V-79 cells.