The 1-isoquinolylmethylene derivative of N-hydroxy-N'-aminoguanidine (HAG) is the most potent agent of the recently synthesized series of HAG-derived ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors. To potentiate the effects of the HAG-isoquinoline drug [HAG-1-isoquinolylmethylene tosylate (HAG-IQ)], we combined it with other inhibitors of ribonucleotide reductase. Using mouse leukemia L1210 cell cultures, we tested drug combinations for their cytostatic and cytotoxic properties and for their effects on intracellular ribonucleotide reductase activity and nucleic acid synthesis. Deoxyguanosine or deoxyadenosine combined with HAG-IQ inhibited cell growth in an additive manner; three-drug combinations, HAG-IQ plus either deoxyguanosine/8-aminoguanosine or deoxyadenosine/deoxycoformycin, were strongly synergistic. When Desferal, an iron chelator, was added to these combinations, the four-drug combinations increased inhibition of cell growth and increased cytotoxicity. The intracellular target of these drug combinations in L1210 cells was the ribonucleotide reductase site. The formation of deoxycytidine from [14C]cytidine and incorporation into DNA were markedly inhibited by these drug combinations, while RNA synthesis was unaffected. These data show that the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects of HAG-IQ, a potent inhibitor by itself, can be further potentiated in combinations with other ribonucleotide reductase inhibitors.