Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
9
pubmed:dateCreated
1984-11-16
pubmed:abstractText
The potentiation of chemotherapeutic agents by radiation sensitizers has been extensively studied for several years. There is little doubt that the effectiveness of certain anti-cancer drugs, primarily alkylating agents, can readily be enhanced both in vitro and in vivo through the addition of a sensitizer. While enhanced effects have been observed in certain critical normal tissues, in general most animal model studies have demonstrated a therapeutic gain at large sensitizer doses. This approach to combination therapies therefore appears promising. Yet many questions concerning the interaction between chemotherapeutic agents and radiosensitizers, particularly in the area of mechanisms of action, still remain. This overview attempts to focus on some of these questions. Four aspects of modification of chemotherapy by nitroimidazoles are reviewed and discussed. These address the importance in chemopotentiation of i) hypoxia, ii) alterations in DNA damage and/or repair, iii) depletion of intracellular sulfhydryls and iv) modification of drug pharmacokinetics. It is concluded that: i) even though chemopotentiation can occur at intermediate oxygen levels, hypoxia ultimately plays a pivotal role, ii) no single unifying mechanism for chemopotentiation exists; alterations in drug pharmacokinetics, cellular SH levels and DNA damage/repair all are involved, the relative importance of each factor is dependent on the particular drug-sensitizer combination, iii) it is important to continue the evaluation of chemopotentiation under conditions mimicking clinically achievable sensitizer pharmacokinetics and iv) further investigations into more effective utilization of chemopotentiation are warranted.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Sep
pubmed:issn
0360-3016
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
10
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1585-94
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1984
pubmed:articleTitle
Modification of chemotherapy by nitroimidazoles.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review