Cytotoxicity indicated by increased release of prelabeled 51chromium (51Cr) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was studied in human prostate cancer and melanoma cells in cell culture following irradiation or exposure to several injurious substances. These changes were compared to those observed in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) subjected to identical treatments. Further, the effect of irradiation on plasminogen activator (PA) secretion from prostate cancer cells, and the effect of glycine on radiation-induced cytotoxicity in BAEC were also investigated. Radiation, lipopolysaccharide and xanthine/xanthine oxidase stimulated no release of 51Cr or LDH from tumor cells, while these treatments induced a dose- and time-related loss of those cytotoxic indicators from BAEC. Protease, elastase and Triton X-100 incited loss of 51Cr and LDH from all three cell types. Radiation, lipopolysaccharide and xanthine/xanthine oxidase have been shown to cause cell injury via a common pathogenic pathway of oxidant generation. Tumor cells appear quite resistant to oxidant stress. Cell damage precipitated by protease, elastase and Triton probably involves hydrolysis of proteins and phospholipids in the cell membrane, leading to an increased leakage of intracellular proteins such as LDH and those bound with 51Cr. Radiation caused a dose- and time-related reduction in the secretion of PA from prostate cancer cells. PA is alleged to play a role in tumor metastasis; the reduced secretion could be another beneficial effect of radiation, in addition to interruption of cell proliferation, in the impediment of tumor growth and spread. Glycine diminished cytotoxic injury of BAEC inflicted by radiation. This amino acid may prove useful in offering a degree of protection of normal tissue against radiation associated side-effects.