Differences in in Vitro Proliferative Responsiveness to Granulocyte Colony-stimulating Factor and Interleukin 2 of Bone Marrow Cells from Mice Treated with Chemotherapeutic Drugs1

The toxicity effects of several anticancer drugs on normal mouse bone marrow (BM) were estimated using the in vitro proliferative responsive ness (| 'I I]iIi>midine incorporation) of the treated BM cells to recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and recombinant human interleukin 2 (IL-2). From the response pattern of the treated BM cells to G-CSF and IL-2, the anticancer drugs were classified into three groups: (a) BM cells from cyclophosphamideor nimustine hydrochloride-treated mice showed an increased responsiveness to G-CSF but a decreased responsiveness to IL-2; (b) BM cells from vindesineor peplomycin-treated mice showed an increased responsiveness to both GCSF and IL-2; and (c) BM cells from mitomycin C-treated mice showed a decreased responsiveness to both G-CSF and IL-2. These different response patterns may reflect qualitative differences in the myelotoxicity effects of these anticancer drugs.