Hypoxic sensitizers: radiobiological studies at the cellular level

Abstract

The nitroimidazoles have been found to selectively sensitize hypoxic cells to the effects of irradiation. The latest in this family of drugs is RO-07-0582, which is able to mimic 80% of the oxygen effect at a concentration of 5 mM by modifying the sensitivity of hypoxic cells to single doses of gamma rays; however, it is not a substitution for oxygen in promoting the repair of sublethal radiation damage between split doses. Studies show that it is a powerful cytotoxic agent as well and selectively operates against hypoxic cells.