How can iron salts mediate the degradation of nucleos(t)ides by elliptinium acetate via free-radicals?

Elliptinium acetate (NSC 264137) is an antineoplastic agent currently used in anticancer chemotherapy. We report here the first evidence that this drug is able to modify DNA models via a redox process with iron salts. In presence of iron (III) salts, EDTA and H2O2, 9-OH-NME degrades deoxyguanosine. The two main products are guanine and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine which result from the formation of hydroxyl radicals. The biological implications of this phenomenon are briefly discussed.