Selective toxicity of 6-hydroxydopa for melanoma cells.

The growth inhibitory effect of 6-hydroxydopa, a cytotoxic analog of L-dopa, was studied in melanotic and amelanotic Cloudman melanoma, mouse fibroblast L929 and Chinese hamster ovary cells. A marked sensitivity of pigmented cells to 6-hydroxydopa was observed with a 10-fold increase in sensitivity of pigmented cells. Sensitivity correlated with the capacity of cells to incorporate radiolabeled exogenous L-dopa. The drug affected primarily DNA and RNA synthesis with greater inhibition observed in pigmented cells than the nonpigmented control cells. The mechanism of action may involve interaction with the melanocyte specific enzyme, tyrosinase, as a false substrate.