Radiology, Vol 141, 801-809, Copyright © 1981 by Radiological Society of North America
Radiosensitization of tumors and normal tissues by combined treatment with misonidazole and heat
KG Hofer, AR MacKinnon, AL Schubert, JE Lehr and EV Grimmett
Combination treatment of mice with misonidazole (0.5 mg/g body wt.) and
hyperthermia (41.4 degrees C for 45 mins.) produced dramatic
radiosensitization in hypoxic BP-8 murine sarcoma cells. The dose modifying
factory (DMF: 4.3) was such that hypoxic BP-8 cells subjected to
combination therapy became more radiosensitive than untreated, fully
oxygenated cell populations. In contrast, radiosensitization by combination
treatment was comparatively minor or completely absent in normal body
tissues such as skin (DMF: 1.57), intestine (DMF: 1.0), and bone marrow
(DMF: 1.0). These results suggest that simultaneous administration of
misonidazole and hyperthermia may prove an effective adjuvant to
conventional clinical radiation therapy.
