Tumor radiosensitizers--current status of development of various approaches: report of an International Atomic Energy Agency meeting.
OBJECTIVE
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held a Technical Meeting of Consultants to (1) discuss a selection of relatively new agents, not those well-established in clinical practice, that operated through a variety of mechanisms to sensitize tumors to radiation and (2) to compare and contrast their tumor efficacy, normal tissue toxicity, and status of development regarding clinical application. The aim was to advise the IAEA as to which developing agent or class of agents would be worth promoting further, by supporting additional laboratory research or clinical trials, with the eventual goal of improving cancer control rates using radiotherapy, in developing countries in particular.


RESULTS
The agents under discussion included a wide, but not complete, range of different types of drugs, and antibodies that interfered with molecules in cell signaling pathways. These were contrasted with new molecular antisense and gene therapy strategies. All the drugs discussed have previously been shown to act as tumor cell radiosensitizers or to kill hypoxic cells present in tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Specific recommendations were made for more preclinical studies with certain of the agents and for clinical trials that would be suitable for industrialized countries, as well as trials that were considered more appropriate for developing countries.
Horsman
Michael R
MR
Department of Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Bohm
Lothar
L
Margison
Geoffrey P
GP
Milas
Luka
L
Rosier
Jean-Francois
JF
Safrany
Geza
G
Selzer
Edgar
E
Verheij
Marcel
M
Hendry
Jolyon H
JH
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000187:drug effects; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D007390:International Agencies; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D020320:Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D052246:Cyclooxygenase 2 Inhibitors; D020320:Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D066246:ErbB Receptors