We studied the cytotoxicity of
arabinosyl-5-azacytosine (
Ara-AC), a dCyd antagonist which inhibits
DNA synthesis, in combination with
5-fluorouracil (FUra) in two human
colon cancer cell lines, HCT 116 and SNU-C4. Clonogenic assays done following sequential or concurrent 24-hr exposures to
Ara-AC and FUra showed that the sequence
Ara-AC followed by FUra resulted in more than additive lethality in the HCT 116 cell lines and additive lethality in the SNU-C4 cells. In contrast, the reverse sequence, FUra followed by
Ara-AC, was antagonistic in both cell lines. A similar interaction between FUra and 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (
Ara-C) was evident in HCT 116 cells; at concentrations which individually diminished viability by 34 and 62%, respectively, the sequence
Ara-C followed by FUra decreased viability by 97%. Pulse-labeling with [3H]dUrd showed profound inhibition of
DNA synthesis by the sequence
Ara-AC followed by FUra, with over 90% inhibition lasting for up to 48 hr following
Ara-AC exposure. When FUra preceded
Ara-AC, however, earlier recovery from inhibition of
DNA synthesis occurred. FUra pretreatment did not appreciably alter the quantity or distribution of [3H]
Ara-AC or [3H]
Ara-C nucleotides after a 4- to 6-hr exposure. Pre-exposure to FUra decreased
Ara-AC incorporation into
DNA by 37 and 73% at 6 hr in HCT 116 and SNU-C4, respectively. FUra pretreatment also inhibited
Ara-C incorporation into
DNA by over 50% at 6 and 24 hr. The antagonism of
Ara-AC and
Ara-C cytotoxicity by FUra pretreatment can thus be explained by diminished incorporation of the dCyd analogs into
DNA resulting from inhibition of
DNA synthesis by FUra-induced
dTTP and
dCTP depletion. In contrast, when
Ara-AC or
Ara-C preceded FUra, their incorporation into
DNA was not disturbed, and prolonged inhibition of
DNA synthesis was observed.