Influence of the hemoglobin solution HBOC-201 on tissue oxygenation in the rat R1H-tumor.
BACKGROUND
HBOC-201 is an ultra purified bovine hemoglobin solution. It has already been used in clinical phase II/III trials for emergency treatments. Animal experiments have shown that HBOC-201 is highly effective in tissue oxygenation. The study was performed in order to assess the potential of low dose HBOC-201 to improve tumor oxygenation.


METHODS
30 rats with a subcutaneously growing rhabdomyosarcoma R1H tumor were randomly assigned either to be ventilated with carbogen (n = 10), or to receive an IV injection of 0.3 g/kg HBOC-201 (n = 10) or a combination of 0.3 g/kg HBOC-201 and carbogen breathing (n = 10). Under general anesthesia the effects of the respective treatment on the tissue oxygen tension (tpO2) of the tumor were determined using a flexible stationary probe at baseline (b) and 15 and 60 min after application of the respective medication.


RESULTS
HBOC-201 alone failed to improve tumor tpO2 (b: 1.3 +/- 1.2mmHg; 15min: 1.4 +/- 1 mmHg; 60min: 1 +/- 1 mmHg). In combination with carbogen the mean tpO2 of the tumor raised in comparison to baseline values (b: 3.1 +/- 4.6 mmHg; mmHg; 15min: 8.5 +/- 11*mmHg; 60min: 4.8 +/- 5mmHg; *p < 0.05 vs. b), but this effect was less pronounced than the increase in tpO2 by carbogen alone (b: 3.4 +/- 3.4mmHg; 15min: 9 +/- 10* mmHg; 60 min: 13 +/- 19* mmHg; *p < 0.05 vs. b).


CONCLUSIONS
The application of low dose hemoglobin solution HBOC-201 does not result in improvement of tissue oxygenation in the rat rhabdomyosarcoma R1H.
Gottschalk
André
A
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. gottschalk.andre@gmx.de
Raabe
Annette
A
Hommel
Matthias
M
Rempf
Christian
C
Freitag
Marc
M
Standl
Thomas
T
D000818:Animals; D001802:Blood Substitutes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000188:drug therapy; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D012208:Rhabdomyosarcoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014018:Tissue Distribution / Q000187:drug effects
D001802:Blood Substitutes; D006454:Hemoglobins; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; C096798:HBOC 201; C011700:carbogen; D010100:Oxygen