Study of the properties of doxorubicin-resistant cells affected by acute leucosis.

The stiffness of cell membrane was found to be one of the factors determining resistance of a cell in vitro to antibiotic doxorubicin action. Membranes of surviving cells are negatively charged (-35 - -30 mV) and have high values of stiffness (2.2-5.1 μРа) at the doxorubicin concentrations in the medium of 1-500 μg/ml. If the drug concentration and exposure time are being increased, only cells with 'soft' membrane (0.25-1 μРа) and positive surface potential (15-29 mV) survive. The data obtained have important prognostic value in studying drug resistance of tumour blood cells and can be used as objective markers of efficiency of the antitumor therapy.