The Oxygen effect: an old new target?

摘要

The Oxygen effect plays a key role in cellular response to ionizing radiations. From many years, tumour hypoxia is a limiting treatment factor. Multiple ways to interact with free radicals have been developed. The increase in tissue oxygenation has a limited impact. Radiosensitizing agents as nimorazole or gadolinium have a clinical benefit. Tirapazamine or AQ4N, bioreductive agents, are not routinely used. New agents through the HIF-1 and the endothelial cell pathways are currently being developed. Studies on the expression of endogenous markers of hypoxia could be useful tools to predict tumour response to the treatment.