[CAS NO. 148-82-3]  Melphalan

Exposure of a myeloma cell line (RPMI 8226) to a 30-minute pulse of melphalan (1-phenylalanine-mustard) results in a cell cycle progression delay characteristic for DNA cross-linking agents. Melphalan has been shown to bind to DNA, RNA, and protein in cells in vitro. Melphalan induces chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, micronuclei, mutations at the HPRT gene, and DNA damage in human cells in vitro. It also induces transformation of C3H 10T1/2 and other cells. In cultured rodent cells, it induces chromosomal aberrations, sister chromatid exchange, gene mutations, and DNA damage. In addition, it induces aneuploidy and sex-linked recessive lethal mutations in Drosophila, and mutation in bacteria.