A new class of analogues of the bifunctional radiosensitizer alpha-(1-aziridinylmethyl)-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU 1069): the cycloalkylaziridines

A series of compounds related to alpha-(1-aziridinylmethyl)-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (RSU 1069, 1) were synthesized and evaluated as selective hypoxic cell cytotoxic agents and as radiosensitizers. The aziridine moiety was replaced with a number of other potential alkylating groups including cycloalkylaziridines and azetidines. The data indicated that modification of the aziridine of 1 resulted in a substantial decrease in the ability of the compounds to selectively kill hypoxic cells. However, these modifications did not affect the compounds' in vitro radiosensitizing activity since many of the derivatives were as potent as 1. All of the compounds that were evaluated in vivo were less toxic than 1, and several members of this series had significant activity. The best compound was trans-alpha-[[(4-bromotetrahydro-2H-pyran-3-yl) amino]methyl]-2-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol (18), which, due to its activity and log P value, is a candidate for additional in vivo studies.

Effect of oxygenation, pH and hyperthermia on RSU-1069 in vitro and in vivo with radiation in the FSaIIC murine fibrosarcoma

We have evaluated the combination of the radiosensitizing and bioreductive alkylating agent RSU-1069 with hyperthermia and radiation in an attempt to improve the potential effectiveness of hyperthermia and radiation against locally advanced malignancies. In vitro studies in FSaIIC murine fibrosarcoma cells demonstrated that 1 h exposure to RSU-1069 was more cytotoxic toward hypoxic than normally oxygenated cells at 37 degrees C and pH 7.40 and was only minimally more cytotoxic at hyperthermic temperatures. At pH 6.45, however, RSU-1069 became significantly more toxic toward hypoxic cells and its cytotoxicity was markedly increased at hyperthermic temperatures. In contrast, the ability of this agent to radiosensitize hypoxic FSaIIC cells significantly diminished at pH 6.45. Hoechst 33342 diffusion selected FSaIIC tumor subpopulation studies revealed that hyperthermia and RSU-1069 were more toxic towards dim (hypoxic) cells, while radiation was more toxic towards bright (normally oxygenated) cells. A combination of all three modalities resulted in an equal and significant kill of hypoxic and oxygenated cells. These results suggest that the combination of RSU-1069, local hyperthermia and radiation has considerable clinical potential.

2-Nitroimidazole potentiation of nitrosourea induced cytotoxicity in subcutaneous implants of rat 9L brain tumor cells

To determine if the 2-nitroimidazole (2-NI) and the nitrosourea (NU) in a brain tumor chemopotentiation trial should be selected on the basis of known structure-activity relationships (electron affinity, lipophilicity, alkylating activity, carbamoylating activity), s.c. implants of rat 9L brain tumor cells were treated with combinations of misonidazole (MISO) or etanidazole (SR-2508) administered under oxic and hypoxic conditions, and BCNU, CCNU or chlorozotocin (CLZ) administered under oxic conditions. Cell kill was assessed by an in vivo to in vitro colony formation assay. To mimic the 'preincubation effect', the 2-NI was injected i.p., and 30 min later the tumor was clamped. After 2 hr, the clamp was released, and the NU administered immediately. MISO (2.5 mmole/kg) and SR-2508 (3.75 mmole/kg) reached the same peak tumor concentration in 30 min. Both 2-NIs were metabolized at the same rate in the clamped tumors; however, metabolism of the 2-NIs by hypoxic cells over the 2 hr clamping period did not produce any measurable s.c. 9L cell kill. The relative effectiveness of the NUs for killing oxic s.c. 9L tumor cells was: BCNU greater than CCNU greater than CLZ. Clamping the tumor prior to NU administration did not change the NU cytotoxicity. No potentiation of the NU cytotoxicity by the 2-NIs was observed in oxic tumors. Although metabolism of MISO by hypoxic cells did not result in potentiation of CLZ cytotoxicity at any dose, it resulted in potentiation of BCNU cytotoxicity at all doses and CCNU cytotoxicity at high doses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Chemical radiosensitization by misonidazole: production and repair of DNA single-strand breaks in Yoshida ascites tumor cells

Formation of strand-breaks in DNA and its repair in Yoshida ascites tumor cells exposed to gamma radiation (100-400 Gy) in presence and absence of misonidazole (10 mM) were studied. The methodology involved pre-labelling of cellular DNA by 3H-thymidine during cell proliferation in rats, irradiation of cells in vitro and analysing sedimentation profile of DNA by ultracentrifugation in alkaline sucrose density gradients. Irradiation under euoxic conditions resulted in formation of about 1.5 times greater number of strand breaks as compared to those formed during irradiation under hypoxic conditions. Misonidazole (10 mM) by its presence along with the cells during irradiation under hypoxic conditions caused a 3-fold increase in the number of single strand breaks, but under euoxic conditions of irradiation the presence of misonidazole did not enhance the strand break formation. Incubation of cells irradiated in absence of misonidazole for 1 hr in tissue culture medium at 37 degrees C resulted in repair of substantial fraction of the strand breaks while there was no repair of the DNA strand breaks in cells irradiated in the presence of the chemical.

Interaction of RSU 1069 and 1137 with DNA in vitro. Biological implications and mechanistic aspects

We have examined the capacity of the nitroimidazole aziridine antitumour drug RSU 1069 to react with DNA in vitro in order to get a better understanding of its mechanism of action. Moreover, we have utilized biologically active phi X174 DNA to investigate the biological relevance of the chemical DNA modification induced by the drug. Incubation of RSU 1069 in the presence of single-stranded phi X174 DNA resulted in extensive inactivation of the DNA, which is dependent on the concentration of drug and temperature. Only about 2% of the inactivating damage can be attributed to strand breakage. The main damage most probably consists of base damage, of which a part is non-lethal and alkali-labile which in turn can be converted into lethal lesion and subsequently into a break applying a post-incubation alkali treatment. Furthermore, from the dependence of the inactivation and also the formation of breaks on pH and ionic strength, it is concluded that the reaction most probably takes place between a protonated RSU 1069 and a negative DNA coil and that the damage pattern reflects the difference in reactivity of RSU 1069 with the phosphate groups and the bases in DNA. Comparison between RSU 1069 and its ring-open hydrolysis product RSU 1137 revealed that (lethal) damage induced in the DNA must be ascribed to the alkylating properties of the aziridine moiety.

Evaluation of a new 2-nitroimidazole nucleoside analogue, RK-28 as a radiosensitizer for clinical use

The experimental data previously reported on RK-28, a hypoxic cell sensitizer which is now being tested in a phase I clinical trial, are confusing. Some data indicate superiority of RK-28 over misonidazole (MISO), whereas others do not. This paper presents our experimental data on the efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of RK-28, in comparison with those of MISO, and also summarizes the data of other investigators. In our experiments, RK-28 had a 1.5-2.5 times higher sensitizing activity in vitro on EMT6 and SCCVII cells than MISO, and the difference was larger when the pre-irradiation incubation time was longer. The latter was considered to be due to the time-dependent cellular uptake and reactivity of RK-28 with non-protein sulphydryls. In vivo, RK-28 was almost as efficient as or slightly inferior to MISO against SCCVII and EMT6 tumours when assayed with an in vivo/in vitro assay and a growth delay time assay. The LD50/7 by a single injection of RK-28 was half that of MISO, but when 60% of LD50/7 was injected into mice every day, the total dose that could be given was higher for RK-28 than for MISO. Pharmacokinetic studies using mice, rats, rabbits, and a dog showed that RK-28 was rapidly eliminated from the blood and various tissues. From our results it was concluded that the possible success of the clinical trial of RK-28 depends on its low cumulative toxicity.

Enhancement of radiosensitizing effect of the nitroimidazole derivative RK28 on the proliferation of MethA tumor cells in combined use with diethyldithiocarbamate

The radiosensitizing effect of the nitroimidazole derivative RK28 and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), which is an inhibitor of superoxide dismutase activity, was examined in vitro by using Meth A tumor cells. The radiosensitizing effect of 0.5 mM RK28 was observed in both of 10 Gy and 15 Gy irradiated groups. The addition of 5 x 10(-7) M DDC also enhanced the radiation-induced proliferation inhibition. Marked enhancement of the antiproliferative effect was observed in combined use of 0.2 mM or 0.5 mM RK28 with 2 x 10(-7) M or 5 x 10(-7) M DDC. These results suggest that enhanced oxygen effect could be expected through combined use of the ionizing irradiation with both of these agents.

Ratio of acentrics to dicentrics in human lymphocytes exposed to X rays and misonidazole

A 0.8 mM concentration of misonidazole was added to human blood samples before exposure to graded X-ray single doses, in order to investigate the dependence of the frequency ratio of acentrics to dicentrics, produced in lymphocytes, on treatment with radiation, the substance and the combination of the 2 agents. The results confirm the findings of a previous experiment carried out using sodium iothalamate, showing that this ratio is markedly influenced by the relative action of the physical and the chemical agents, especially at low radiation doses, because of the enhancement of the frequency of acentrics, and not of dicentrics, caused by the presence of the drug compared to the spontaneous level.

[Radiosensitization by hypoxic cell radiosensitizer--present status of radiosensitizer]

Because of the unsuccessful clinical trials of misonidazole (MISO), many efforts have been made to find a new hypoxic cell sensitizer which is more effective and/or less toxic than MISO. In Japan, RK-28 is already under going Phase II clinical evaluation and RP-170, KU-2285 and KIH-802 have been proven to be effective both in vitro and in vivo and are also waiting further clinical trials. But in U.S.A. and England, etanidazole (SR-2508) and pimonidazole (Ro 03-8799) are under going Phase III evaluation and clinical evaluation of SR-2508 will be key opened in early next year. Now, an appropriate goal for a new radiosensitizer would be more effective and/or less toxic than SR-2508 or clinically more useful than SR-2508. Clinical trials of SR-2508 have been performed using intravenous injection, however it may be difficult to give a sensitizer intravenously on a daily basis in accordance with requirements for standard fractionated radiotherapy in a clinical setting. In contrast, RP-170 and KU-2285 have the potential to produce considerable radiosensitization under both intravenous and oral administration.

Studies with bifunctional bioreductive drugs. II. Cytotoxicity assayed with A-549 lung carcinoma cells of human origin

A lung carcinoma cell line of human origin (A-549) cultured in vitro was used to investigate the cytotoxic effect of a range of bifunctional bioreductive drugs. The drugs tested consisted of nitroimidazoles or nitrofurans with terminal aziridine rings on the side chain and are designated RSU-1069, RSU-1164, RB-7040, RB-88716, and RB-88712. Measurements of the cytotoxicity in air demonstrated that methyl and alkyl addition to the aziridine ring reduced cell killing with progressive substitution of the alkylating moiety. A comparison was made of cytotoxicity in air and hypoxia with cells exposed to drugs for a 4-h period. A direct comparison of the aerobic and hypoxic cytotoxicity of RSU-1069 in human (A-549) and rodent cells (V-79-379A) yielded similar results. The cytotoxicity factors, defined to be the ratio of drug concentrations under aerobic and hypoxic conditions which result in 10% cell survival, were found to be 40, 25, 18, and 8, respectively, for the four agents RSU-1069, RSU-1164, RB-88712, and RB-88716 tested in A-549 cells. It has been suggested that under aerobic conditions the aziridine ring is primarily responsible for aerobic toxicity, whereas under hypoxic conditions, the aziridine moiety combined with a reduced 2-nitro moiety produces a bifunctional agent (I. J. Stratford et al., Br. J. Cancer 53, 339-344, 1986).

Effect of acidic pH on radiosensitization of FSaIIC cells in vitro by misonidazole, etanidazole, or cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II)

Because acidic regions may coexist with hypoxic regions in solid tumors, we have studied the effect of acidic extracellular pH on the abilities of misonidazole, etanidazole, and cis-diaminedichloroplatinum(II) (CDDP) to radiosensitize hypoxic FSaIIC cells in vitro. For 1-h exposures to misonidazole prior to and during irradiation, the sensitizer enhancement ratios (SERs) were 2.10 +/- 0.18 at 1 mM drug and 2.50 +/- 0.16 at 5 mM drug at pH 7.40 but only 1.90 +/- 0.14 and 2.30 +/- 0.14, respectively, at pH 6.45. For etanidazole the SERs at pH 7.40 at 1 and 5 mM drug were 1.90 +/- 0.13 and 2.40 +/- 0.18, respectively, but only 1.25 +/- 0.13 and 1.70 +/- 0.17, respectively, at pH 6.45. The decrease in the SERs for both 2-nitroimidazole compounds was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). When CDDP at concentrations of 1 and 5 microM was tested, SERs of 1.30 +/- 0.15 and 1.60 +/- 0.18, respectively, were observed at pH 7.40, and the increase was not significant at pH 6.45 (1.35 +/- 0.15 and 1.80 +/- 0.19, respectively). The cellular levels of misonidazole, etanidazole, and CDDP did not vary significantly at the environmental conditions tested. These results demonstrate that pH is a potentially important variable in the action of hypoxic cell radiosensitizing drugs and suggest that future evaluations of such agents should test the effects of pH.

[Hypoxic cell radiosensitizer present status and problems from viewpoint of clinical radiotherapy]

The results of clinical trials of hypoxic cell radiosensitizers were reviewed in order to clarify the present status and problems in this field. Most trials failed to show an effectiveness of the combination, however, some ENT tumors and bladder cancers were improved in local tumor responses and survivals. A selection of the patients suitable for the combination and development of simple method for the selection are indispensable. SERs necessary for clinical radiotherapy are considered to be larger than 1.2 at 2 Gy fraction level. Present hypoxic cell radiosensitizers have no significant effects on alpha values. Since radiation responses at low radiation dose ranges are dominated by alpha values, the chemicals having an effects on alpha values have to be developed.

Enhancement of chemotherapy and nitroimidazole-induced chemopotentiation by the vasoactive agent hydralazine

Nitroimidazoles have been shown to be potent sensitisers of certain clinically active chemotherapeutic agents. This process of chemopotentiation has been shown to be hypoxia-mediated. The present studies evaluated whether increasing the level of hypoxia in the tumour tissue, by treatment with the vasoactive agent hydralazine, could modify the chemosensitising ability of nitroheterocyclics. Administering either misonidazole or RSU 1164 before, or hydralazine after, the chemotherapeutic agents melphalan, cyclophosphamide or the nitrosourea CCNU, increased the extent of cell kill in both the KHT sarcoma and RIF-1 tumour. However, even greater enhancements could be achieved when hydralazine was used in treatment protocols in which a nitroimidazole was combined with chemotherapy. For example, a 5.0 mg kg-1 dose of hydralazine given 30 min after melphalan, or a 2.5 mmol kg-1 dose of misonidazole administered 30 min before melphalan, increased, compared to melphalan alone, the resultant tumour cell kill by factors of approximately 1.9 and approximately 1.3, respectively. By comparison, when hydralazine was given after the melphalan plus misonidazole combination, treatment efficacy was enhanced approximately 3-fold compared to melphalan alone. Yet in contrast to the results of the tumour response studies, the inclusion of hydralazine did not increase the bone marrow toxicity associated with the chemotherapeutic agent when used alone or in conjunction with a nitroimidazole. The results, therefore, imply that the addition of hydralazine to the chemotherapy, or chemotherapy-sensitiser protocol, led to a therapeutic advantage.

A comparison of the techniques of alkaline filter elution and alkaline sucrose sedimentation used to assess DNA damage induced by 2-nitroimidazoles

The induction of DNA single-strand breaks (DNA-SSB) in Chinese hamster V79-379A lung fibroblasts by misonidazole or RSU-1069 under both aerobic and hypoxic conditions was examined following incubations for up to 4 hr at 310 degrees K using the technique of alkaline filter elution. Incubation with RSU-1069 induces DNA-SSB under both hypoxic and aerobic conditions, whereas incubation with misonidazole induces DNA-SSB only under hypoxia. The yield of breaks is dependent on both agent concentration and contact time. Following identical treatments with these agents, the yield of DNA-SSB (expressed in radiation dose equivalents) determined by alkaline filter elution is about one order of magnitude less than that previously determined by alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation. In contrast to radiation induced DNA-SSB, alkaline elution is less sensitive than alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation when determining DNA-SSB induced by RSU-1069 and misonidazole. During the filter elution assay, either increasing cell lysis from 2 to 4 hr, the pH of the lysing buffer from pH 8.7 to 12.5 or the elution buffer from pH 12.2 to 12.5 does not significantly effect the yield of DNA-SSB. Increasing the pH of the lysing or elution buffers to greater than pH 13 however results in considerable degradation of the DNA, whereby 50-85% of the total DNA passes through the filter with the lysing solution. This effect was similar for DNA from both control and chemically insulted cells. In conclusion, it is apparent that incubation with these agents results in the induction of DNA damage which is expressed as a DNA-SSB only after prolonged treatment under alkaline conditions. Further, the use of alkaline elution to study DNA-SSB damage induced chemically must be treated with caution in the light of these findings.

Comparison of the toxic and radiosensitizing effects of five therapeutic drugs on the mouse jejunum

Tissue toxicity and radiosensitizing effects of five different therapeutic drugs, bleomycin (BLM), chlorpromazine (CPZ), misonidazole (MISO), metronidazole (Metro) and Cis-diamminedichloro platinum (II) (c-DDP) on the jejunal crypts of Swiss albino mice were compared. All the drugs except Metro, when used alone, showed comparable toxicity. When combined with radiation, BLM produced a pronounced enhancement in the radiation damage (DMF = 1.5) while Metro did not have any effect; the other drugs lay between BLM and Metro in their radiosensitizing effect.

Chemosensitization of the nitrosoureas by 2-nitroimidazoles in the subcutaneous 9L tumor model: pharmacokinetic and structure-activity considerations

Alterations of the pharmacokinetics and cytotoxic effects of the nitrosoureas, 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(cyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) by the 2-nitroimidazoles, misonidazole (MISO) and SR-2508 were investigated using the subcutaneous (sc) 9L tumor model in male Fisher 344 rats. When 50 mg/kg of CCNU was given i.p., the peak plasma concentration of CCNU was about 3 micrograms/ml. CCNU was eliminated with biphasic kinetics that had a terminal half-time (T1/2) of approximately 47 min. When 2.5 mmole/kg of MISO was given i.p. 150 min before CCNU, the peak plasma concentration of CCNU was increased by approximately 63% with no change in the elimination kinetics. Clamping did not change the pharmacokinetics of CCNU in either plasma or tumors. MISO pretreatment increased the peak CCNU concentration in unclamped tumors by 3-fold, but had no effect on the CCNU pharmacokinetics in clamped tumors. With the exception of a decrease in the peak BCNU concentration in tumors similar to that observed with MISO, SR-2508 (3.75 mmole/kg, i.p.) did not change the pharmacokinetics of BCNU or CCNU in plasma and tumors. CCNU had no effect on the MISO concentration in plasma and unclamped tumors. However, in the clamped tumors, CCNU delayed the return of the MISO concentration to the unclamped tumor level by about an additional 60 min after the clamp was released. SR-2508 was eliminated from the plasma with biphasic kinetics having an initial and terminal T1/2 of approximately 11 and approximately 76 min, respectively. SR-2508 reached a peak tumor concentration of about 500 micrograms/ml in 30 min. The elimination T1/2 for SR-2508 in unclamped and clamped tumors was approximately 81 and approximately 42 min, respectively. When the clamp was released, the SR-2508 concentration returned to the level found in the unclamped tumors approximately 90 min after it reached its nadir; BCNU and CCNU had no effect on the kinetics of this process. MISO significantly potentiated the cytotoxicity of BCNU in clamped tumors at surviving fractions less than or equal to 0.5. MISO did not potentiate the cytotoxicity of CCNU until the surviving fraction reached 0.05. SR-2508 did not potentiate the cytotoxicity of either BCNU or CCNU.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The effects of three bioreductive drugs (mitomycin C, RSU-1069 and SR4233) on cell lines selected for their sensitivity to mitomycin C or ionising radiation

We have investigated the cross-sensitivity of a number of cell lines to three different classes of bioreductive drugs under both aerobic and hypoxic conditions. The cell lines used were selected for their sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and fall into two groups. One group, MMC cells derived from CHO-K1 cells (Robson et al., 1985), show a range of sensitivities to mitomycin C in air. The second group, irs cells were cloned from V79 Chinese hamster fibroblasts (Jones et al., 1987) and exhibit sensitivity to ionising radiation. The sensitivity of both groups of cells to mitomycin C (MMC), RSU-1069 and SR4233 was assessed under aerobic and hypoxic conditions. No difference in aerobic or hypoxic toxicity of MMC was observed for CHO-K1 or MMC sensitive cell lines (MMC-2 and MMC-3). However, the MMC-resistant cell line (MMCr) was 10 times more sensitive under hypoxic than aerobic conditions. This suggests that MMCr cells lack or are deficient in the enzymes responsible for activating MMC under aerobic conditions compared to other MMC cells. In contrast, differential toxicities of between 3 and 30 have been observed for all CHO cells treated with RSU-1069 and SR4233. Treatment of V79 and irs cells with RSU-1069 and SR4233 also resulted in selective toxicity towards hypoxic cells. Differential toxicities between 50 and 100 were observed for V79 cells. For both RSU-1069 and SR4233, the hypoxic toxicities were similar in V79 and irs cells but in air, the radiation sensitive cells were up to 10 times more sensitive than wild type cells.

KIH-802, an acetohydroxamic acid derivative of 2-nitroimidazole, as a new potent hypoxic cell radiosensitizer: radiosensitizing activity, acute toxicity, and pharmacokinetics

The radiosensitizing activity, acute toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of a new hypoxic cell radiosensitizer, potassium 2-nitroimidazole-1-acetohydroxamate (KIH-802), were compared with those of misonidazole (MISO) and etanidazole (SR-2508). The radiosensitizing activity of KIH-802 was slightly higher than that of MISO and SR-2508 in vitro and was similar to or slightly higher than that of MISO or SR-2508 in vivo. The acute toxicity of KIH-802 was slightly higher than that of MISO. The concentrations of KIH-802 in the brains and peripheral nerves of mice were as low as those of SR-2508 and lower than those of MISO.

Asymmetric field inversion gel electrophoresis: a new method for detecting DNA double-strand breaks in mammalian cells

A new method is described for detecting DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) that utilizes asymmetric field inversion gel electrophoresis (AFIGE). DNA purified from cells in agarose plugs is subjected to AFIGE and DNA breakage quantitated by the fraction of DNA released from the plug. To test the specificity of the method for DNA DSBs, purified DNA in agarose plugs was treated for increasing times with restriction endonuclease, XhoI. After an initial time period, the fraction of DNA released increased in direct proportion to time. This correlates with the expected response for a randomly broken DNA molecule. In contrast, treatment with the single-strand breaking agent, hydrogen peroxide, over a 1000-fold range produced no release of DNA from the plug. Thus the assay appears to be specific for DNA DSBs and was used to measure DNA breaks induced by gamma radiation. Purified DNA, irradiated in agarose plugs, exhibited a log-linear dose response up to doses that release greater than 90% DNA from the plug. When live cells were irradiated in agarose, a similar linear dose response was observed up to 40 Gy and a significant signal as low as 2.5 Gy. Also in live cells, a threefold lower percentage of DNA was released from the plug over the same dose range. However, less DNA per gray is released at doses above 40 Gy and may reflect a crosslinking effect produced by the irradiation of DNA in live cells. DNA which was "pulse-labeled" was used to test the effect of DNA replication on the ability of AFIGE to detect DNA DSBs. Replicating DNA irradiated in the cell or after purification exhibited a reduced rate of release from the plug per dose of irradiation. Overall, the above results indicate that AFIGE is a sensitive method for detecting DSBs in DNA.

Radiosensitization by misonidazole, pimonidazole and azomycin and intracellular uptake in human tumour cell lines

The radiosensitization of two human tumour in vitro cell lines, HT-1080 and LoVo, has been compared with that of the Chinese hamster cell line V79-379A. Although the two human tumour cell lines were more radiosensitive than the V79 cell line sensitizer, enhancement ratios for misonidazole, pimonidazole and azomycin were similar (relative to extracellular concentration) for all three cell lines. Average intracellular concentrations of radiosensitizer were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. In all three cell lines the uptake of misonidazole and azomycin was extremely rapid whereas that of pimonidazole was initially much slower before reaching a plateau. The ratios of intracellular concentration of radiosensitizer to extracellular concentration (Ci to Ce) for misonidazole were 0.8 (HT-1080) and 0.7 (LoVo and V79); for azomycin 0.9 (HT-1080 and LoVo) and 0.8 (V79). In contrast Ci/Ce for pimonidazole varied with cell line, the values being 1.8 (LoVo), 2.6 (HT-1080) and 3.3 (V79). Intracellular amounts of non-protein sulphydryl (NPSH) varied between cell lines by about a factor of three. However, when the average cell volume was taken into consideration the concentrations of NPSH were very similar, being 4.2 (HT-1080), 5.6 (LoVo) and 5.7 (V79) mmol dm-3. NPSH levels expressed as nmol per mg protein were also similar.

Radiation response of E. coli after combined treatment with misonidazole and WR-2721 at various oxygen concentrations

It has been reported that the aminothiol compound WR-2721 is a promising radioprotective agent and in combination with misonidazole (MISO) seems to be of therapeutic benefit. Since the radiomodification is oxygen-dependent, the actual oxygen status of cells and the surrounding media is an important factor influencing their effectiveness. Escherichia coli B/r radioresponse was studied either alone or in combination with these compounds at various oxygen concentrations ranging from anoxia to high oxygen content. WR-2721 had a protective effect under anoxic conditions and gave overall protection when oxygen was present. The maximum protection was seen at 3.2% O2 in N2 (PF 2.08). In combination with MISO the hypoxic sensitization of MISO was completely abolished by WR-2721, resulting in radioprotection under hypoxic conditions as well. Under euoxic conditions MISO was able to reduce the protective effect of WR-2721 by about 21%. According to our results MISO and WR-2721 influence each other in their radiomodifying effect in either fixation or repair of the radiation-induced damage.

The in vivo response of a C3H mammary carcinoma to treatment with misonidazole, cyclophosphamide and radiation

The potential chemosensitizing effect of the nitroaromatic radiosensitizer misonidazole (MISO) on the alkylating agent cyclophosphamide (CTX), and the interactions of these agents with radiation, have been investigated in a C3H mammary carcinoma in CDF1 mice. MISO at 1,000 mg/kg caused a small increase in tumour growth time (TGT; time to reach 3 times treatment volume) from 3.6 days to 4.5 days. CTX (100 mg/kg) increased the TGT to 15.7 days. The combined treatment of MISO and CTX given with intervals of either 15 min or 4 h increased the TGT to 23.3 and 23.8 days respectively. The radiation enhancement ratio (ER) was found to be 2.13 and 1.10 for MISO administered before or after x-rays respectively. The corresponding ERs for CTX were 1.16 and 1.22. The two drugs given in combination resulted in significant radiation ERs of 2.68 (both drugs given within 30 min before x-rays), 3.00 (MISO 30 min before and CTX 3 1/2 h after x-rays) and 1.40 (both drugs given after x-rays). In contrast to what has previously been reported, and in contrast to the tumour regrowth delay data, the results of the tumour control experiments were found to reflect no more than an additive action of the two drugs when used together with radiation in vivo.

Misonidazole hypoxic cytotoxicity and chemosensitization in two cell lines with different intracellular glutathione levels

Nitroimidazoles such as misonidazole (Miso) or SR-2508 are known to be cytotoxic to hypoxic cells and, with preincubation under hypoxic conditions, to sensitize cells to certain chemotherapy drugs, notably melphalan. In addition, these nitroimidazoles afford hypoxic radiosensitization; however, high intracellular glutathione (GSH) levels have been shown to significantly reduce radiosensitization by some nitroimidazoles. Using two cell lines that have an 8-fold difference in cellular GSH content, we have investigated whether inherent GSH levels influence Miso-induced hypoxic cytotoxicity, hypoxic GSH depletion, or chemosensitization to melphalan. Hypoxic incubation with varying concentrations of Miso resulted in greater cytotoxicity in Chinese hamster V79 cells than in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells, which have much higher GSH levels. However, the rate of GSH depletion for three concentrations of Miso was the same in the two cell lines, despite the large difference in inherent GSH levels. While the inherent sensitivity to melphalan was markedly different between the cell lines, hypoxic preincubation with 2 mM Miso with subsequent aerobic exposure to melphalan resulted in similar levels of sensitization. These results indicate that the potentiation of melphalan cytotoxicity by hypoxic Miso preincubation can occur independent of intracellular GSH levels.