Nucleotide excision repair-deficient human cells in culture exhibit decreased survival after 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine treatment.

2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (CldAdo, cladribine) is a clinically important nucleoside analog for adult and pediatric leukemias. We previously described an activity in HeLa cell nuclear extracts that specifically recognized CldAMP-substituted oligomers. The factor was present in extracts prepared from repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) complementation group A cells, but not from group E--which are defective in damaged DNA-binding (DDB) protein--suggesting a possible repair process for incorporated analogs.