Combination of perfluorochemical emulsions and carbogen breathing with cancer chemotherapy.
Over the past ten years several laboratories have explored the use of perfluorochemical emulsions (PFCE) and carbogen (95% O2/5% CO2; C) or oxygen breathing as an adjuvant to radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy in solid tumor model systems. The rationale for the use of PFCE and C or oxygen breathing in this therapeutic setting is that solid tumor masses contain areas of hypoxia which are therapeutically resistant. Since x-rays and many chemotherapeutic agents require oxygen to be maximally cytotoxic and most normal tissues are well-oxygenated, the additional oxygen put in circulation by the PFCE/C should not increase the normal tissue toxicities produced by the various therapies. Several anticancer agents are dependent on oxygen to be cytotoxic, these drugs such as the iron-chelating peptide bleomycin are enhanced in antitumor activity by the co-administration of a PFCE/C. The antitumor alkylating agents especially cyclophosphamide, BCNU and melphalan show increased tumor cell killing without a concomitant increase in bone marrow toxicity when administered with PFCE/C. Enhanced activity was also observed when topoisomerase II inhibitors such as adriamycin and etoposide were co-administered with PFCE/C. Positive effects, although smaller, were observed when antimetabolites such as 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate were co-administered with PFCE/C.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.
B A
BA
Teicher
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000628:therapy; D010100:Oxygen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004655:Emulsions; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C011700:carbogen; D010100:Oxygen