Abstract
Procarbazine has been shown to be a hypoxic cell sensitizer of moderate ability in E. coli B/r, with an achievable enhancement ratio of 1.4 at subtoxic concentrations. The drug appears to act in a manner similar to the expected with the electron-affinic radiosensitizers. However, procarbazine and the electron-affinic sensitizers differ in two important respects. Unlike the electron-affinic sensitizers, procarbazine is not easily reduced, but is easily oxidized. It is more toxic to aerobic than to hypoxic cells. At the drug dosages in present clinical use, procarbazine is likely to be only a weak radiosensitizer. The possible implications of the data for the further development of a new class of sensitizers and combination therapy are discussed.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Roberts, P. Radiosensitization of E. coli B/r by the cytotoxic agent procarbazine: A hypoxic cell sensitizer preferentially toxic to aerobic cells and easily oxidized. Br J Cancer 39, 755–760 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1979.129
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1979.129
This article is cited by
-
The use of radiosensitizing agents in the therapy of glioblastoma multiforme—a comprehensive review
Strahlentherapie und Onkologie (2022)