In vitro translation of messenger RNA following exposure of human colon carcinoma cells in culture to 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorouridine.

Total mRNA from human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29 treated with either 5-fluorouracil or 5-fluorouridine was assessed in vitro in a reticulocyte lysate translation system. Under conditions of known drug-induced cell lethality, fluoropyrimidine-modified mRNA did not show major quantitative or qualitative changes in translational activity. These results suggest that drug-modified mRNA is probably not associated with the cytotoxicity manifested by these drugs.