Thiourea prevents cytotoxicity and mutagenicity, but not sister-chromated exchanges in V79 cells treated with cis-diaminedichloroplatinum (II).

This work shows that cis-diaminedichloroplatinum(II)'s (cis-DDP) mutagenicity, as well as its cytotoxicity, can be prevented by subsequent treatment with thiourea. Sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) induced by cis-DDP are only partially prevented by thiourea under conditions where mutagenicity is totally inhibited. A 4.5-h delay in the addition of thiourea following cis-DDP treatment results in an almost complete loss of its ability to prevent mutagenicity, but only a partial loss of its ability to prevent cytotoxicity and sister-chromatid exchanges.