Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Effectiveness of nitrofuran derivatives in sensitizing hypoxic mammalian cells to x rays

Journal Article · · Brit. J. Radiol., v. 46, no. 548, pp. 623-630

Various nitrofuran derivatives were tested with Chinese hamster cells growing in vitro to determine their toxicity and radiosensitizing effectiveness. All nitrofurans tested displayed a greater radiosensitizing potential than p- nitroacetophenone for hypoxic cells at concentrations producing no acute toxicity. The most effective compound tested to datc is nifuraldezone which at 250 mu m in complete medium gives the same extent of radiosensitization (ER ~ 2.85) as oxygen in air-saturated medium. Additional nitroheterocyclic compounds in current clinical usage were also characterized. The chemical and pharmacological properties of the various compounds are discussed in relation to their application in animal tumor studies. High water solubility appears to be an important propenty for radiosensitizers to be used in animal tumor studies. A positive demonstration of radiosensitization in vivo with nitroheterocyclic drugs will depend upon whether or not a sensitizing concentration of the drugs can be established in the hypoxic cells of a solid animal tumor for the duration of the radiation treatment. (auth)

Research Organization:
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Pinawa, Manitoba
NSA Number:
NSA-29-007909
OSTI ID:
4368908
Journal Information:
Brit. J. Radiol., v. 46, no. 548, pp. 623-630, Journal Name: Brit. J. Radiol., v. 46, no. 548, pp. 623-630; ISSN BJRAA
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English