Alterations in [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA and [3H]uridine incorporation into RNA induced by 5-azacytidine in vivo.

Administration in vivo of 5-azacytidine (5-aza-CR) caused suppression of ³H]thymidine (³H]TdR) incorporation into DNA of bone marrow and gastrointestinal mucosa of mice and a more prolonged suppression of L1210 ascites tumor. Single doses of 5-aza-CR caused a modest and short-lived suppression of incorporation of ³H]uridine (³H]UR) into nuclear RNA of L1210 ascites tumor cells. No suppression of ³H]UR incorporation into RNA of bone marrow or gastrointestinal mucosa was observed. L1210 tumor cells resistant to the other active cytidine analogue, cytosine arabinoside, demonstrated less disruption of ³H]TdR incorporation after exposure to 5-aza-CR, suggesting some cross resistance in the effects of these two drugs on DNA synthesis. Survival studies carried out in mice bearing both the sensitive and resistant L1210 tumor cell lines confirmed cross resistance of the anti-tumor effects of the two cytidine analogues. Second doses of 5-aza-CR, with the timing og administration based upon the differing patterns of recovery of ³H]TdR incorporation between normal tissues and tumor cells, led to a prolongation of survival in mice bearing the sensitive L1210 ascites tumor.