The interrelation between iron, iron chelation, and anthracycline toxicity was investigated in
a heart cell culture system. Two indicators of cellular damage have been used, lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) release and cell contractility. Both of these indicators have shown a
marked increase in doxorubicin toxicity by prior iron loading. This was not a simple additive
effect, because at the concentrations used, iron had only a minimal effect on LDH release
and no effect at all on contractility, whereas doxorubicin had only a minor effect on …