Effects of hyperthermia and ethanol on the cytotoxicity of bleomycin, adriamycin, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) and macromomycin toward hela cells.

The cytotoxic effect of bleomycin on HeLa S3 cells is greatly enhanced when the cells are exposed to ethanol before drug treatment or treated with the drug at 43 degrees (hyperthermic temperature). On the other hand, the cytotoxic effects of adriamycin, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) and macromomycin are not enhanced by ethanol exposure, but are potentiated by 43 degrees hyperthermia. This effect of ethanol suggests a unique mode of action in sensitizing cells to bleomycin.