Protection of mouse bone marrow from etoposide-induced genomic damage by dexrazoxane.

Purpose: The objective of the current investigation is to determine whether non-toxic doses of the catalytic topoisomerase-II inhibitor, dexrazoxane, have influence on the genomic damage induced by the anticancer topoisomerase-II poison, etoposide, on mice bone marrow cells.

Method: The scoring of micronuclei, chromosomal aberrations, and mitotic activity were undertaken as markers of cyto- and genotoxicity. Oxidative damage markers such as reduced glutathione and lipid peroxidation were assessed as a possible mechanism underlying this amelioration.