Serum and tumor copper levels are significantly elevated in a variety of malignancies including breast, ovarian, gastric, lung, and leukemia. D-Penicillamine (D-pen), a copper-chelating agent, at low concentrations in the presence of copper generates concentration-dependent cytotoxic hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). The purpose of these studies was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxicity, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and the reduction in intracellular thiol levels due to H(2)O(2) and other ROS generated from copper-catalyzed D-pen oxidation in human breast cancer cells (BT474, MCF-7) and human leukemia cells (HL-60, HL-60/VCR, HL-60/ADR). D-pen (< or = 400 microM) in the presence of cupric sulfate (10 microM) resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. Catalase was able to completely protect the cells, substantiating the involvement of H(2)O(2) in cancer cell cytotoxicity. A linear correlation between the D-pen concentration and the intracellular ROS generated was shown in both breast cancer and leukemia cells. D-pen in the presence of copper also resulted in a reduction in intracellular reduced thiol levels. The H(2)O(2)-mediated cytotoxicity was greater in leukemia cells compared to breast cancer cells. These results support the hypothesis that D-pen can be employed as a cytotoxic copper-chelating agent based on its ROS-generating ability.