Benzene metabolites antagonize etoposide-stabilized cleavable complexes of DNA topoisomerase IIα

Abstract

Chronic exposure to benzene is associated with hematotoxicity and acute myelogenous leukemia. Inhibition of topoisomerase IIα (topo II) has been implicated in the development of benzene-induced cytogenetic aberrations. The purpose of this study was to determine the mechanism of topo II inhibition by benzene metabolites. In a DNA cleavage/relaxation assay, topo II was inhibited by p-benzoquinone and hydroquinone at 10 μM and 10 mM, respectively. On peroxidase activation, inhibition was seen with 4,4′-biphenol, hydroquinone, and catechol at 10 μM, 10 μM, and 30 μM, respectively. But, in no case was cleavable complex stabilization observed and the metabolites appeared to act at an earlier step of the enzyme cycle. In support of this conclusion, several metabolites antagonized etoposide-stabilized cleavable complex formation and inhibited topo II-DNA binding. It is therefore unlikely that benzene-induced acute myelogenous leukemia stems from events invoked for leukemogenic topo II cleavable complex-stabilizing antitumor agents. © 2001 by The American Society of Hematology.