[The role of the system of superoxide radical formation and detoxication in the mechanism of the antineoplastic effect of adriamycin].

The intensity of formation of superoxide radicals (O(-2)) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the tissue of two transplantable gliomas were examined. The cells of these tumors were marked by unbalance between the intensity of O(-2) formation by nuclear membranes and their detoxication of SOD. This unbalance was particularly demonstrable in glioma 35 which was marked by rapid growth and high sensitivity to adriamycin. Slow-growing glioma was noted for higher activity of SOD and was insensitive to adriamycin. Since it is known that anthracycline antibiotics raise the intensity of the formation of free oxygen radicals in tumor cells, the data obtained suggest that the intensity of formation and detoxication of O(-2) may be used for the assessment of the sensitivity to these drugs.