A method for improving cellular gallium uptake (particularly of tumor cells) by exposing cells to a nifedipine photodegradation product, or an analog thereof. In particular embodiments, the gallium uptake enhancer is selected from the group of A-B and formula (I), wherein A is a pyridine and B is a nitrosophenyl, and n=1-10. In yet other embodiments, the uptake enhancer is formula (II), wherein R1-9 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, halogen, haloalkyl, NO2, NO, SO2, a C1-6 alkyl, a COOR10 wherein R10 is H or C1-6 alkyl, and an —OR11 wherein R11 is H or C1-6 alkyl; wherein at least one of R5 and R7 is NO. The uptake enhancers are particularly useful in imaging tumors, using such techniques as gallium scanning, in which the dose of the gallium isotope can be decreased or its imaging efficiency improved. Alternatively, the method can be used to improve efficacy of gallium containing chemotherapeutic regiments in the treatment of tumors and hypercalcemia, or to improve the uptake of other chemotherapeutics that use a similar transferrin independent uptake mechanism. 展开▼
