Development and some characteristics of a P388 leukemia strain resistant to 1, 2:5, 6-dianhydrogalactitol.

Repeated intraperitoneal treatment of standard P388 mouse leukemia with dianhydrogalactitol (DAG) resulted in the development of a P388/DAG experimental mouse tumor which was resistant to the drug. Resistance was stable without DAG treatment throughout 80 passages. P388/DAG shows cross-resistance to alkylating agents such as nitrogen-mustard, cyclophosphamide and diacetyl-DAG but not to selected antimetabolites and tubulin binders and exhibits reduced sensitivity to nitrosoureas. Resistance to DAG could not be overcome by the administration of maximally tolerated dose of DAG to tumor bearing mice. The resistant tumor is one chromosome short and shows a 13-fold increase of cells possessing a submetacentric marker chromosome.