From a single wild-type strain of Ehrlich ascites tumor, sublines resistant to daunorubicin, etoposide, and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) have been developed in vivo. Different levels of resistance were achieved after 4 to 8 months for anthracyclines (greater than 32-fold), cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (4-fold), and etoposide (greater than 6-fold). Anthracycline resistance was associated with decreased nuclear steady-state concentration of anthracyclines, increased content of high-molecular-weight membrane glycoproteins, and glucose-dependent drug extrusion after metabolic blockade with sodium azide. A similar "pump" system which was apparently not drug specific was also documented in etoposide resistance. Resistance towards cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) was accompanied by decreased cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-induced DNA damage in vitro when proteinase K-resistant interstrand cross-links were measured by alkaline elution. Parallel in vivo studies revealed cross-resistance of various degrees among a number of anthracycline analogs, complete cross-resistance among daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-M-anisidine (amsacrine), and partial cross-resistance between daunorubicin and etoposide. However, cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) was curative in anthracycline- and etoposide-resistant cells, as daunorubicin and etoposide were curative in acquired resistance towards cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). cis-Diamminedichloroplatinum(II) resistance was also overcome by the derivative 1,2,diaminocyclohexylplatinum malonate. The Vinca alkaloid vindesine, although only marginally active in the control tumor, was highly active in cells selected for cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) resistance. These in vivo patterns of cross-resistance and collateral sensitivity may be related to observations in clinical chemotherapy.