title: RRx-001, A novel dinitroazetidine radiosensitizer.
abstract: The 'holy grail' in radiation oncology is to improve the outcome of radiation therapy (RT) with a radiosensitizer-a systemic chemical/biochemical agent that additively or synergistically sensitizes tumor cells to radiation in the absence of significant toxicity. Similar to the oxygen effect, in which DNA bases modified by reactive oxygen species prevent repair of the cellular radiation damage, these compounds in general magnify free radical formation, leading to the permanent "fixation" of the resultant chemical change in the DNA structure. The purpose of this review is to present the origin story of the radiosensitizer, RRx-001, which emerged from the aerospace industry. The activity of RRx-001 as a chemosensitizer in multiple tumor types and disease states including malaria, hemorrhagic shock and sickle cell anemia, are the subject of future reviews.
authors: EpicentRx Inc, 800 W El Camino Real, Suite 180, Mountain View, CA, 94040, USA. boronsky@epicentrx.com.
authors: Bryan
authors: B
authors: Oronsky
authors: EpicentRx Inc, 800 W El Camino Real, Suite 180, Mountain View, CA, 94040, USA.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Scicinski
authors: Stanford University, 875 Blake Wilbur Dr Clinic D, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors: Shoucheng
authors: S
authors: Ning
authors: Stanford University, 875 Blake Wilbur Dr Clinic D, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Peehl
authors: InterWest Partners, 2710 Sand Hill Rd #200, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA.
authors: Arnold
authors: A
authors: Oronsky
authors: Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego (UCSD), 9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Cabrales
authors: Stanford University, 875 Blake Wilbur Dr Clinic D, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Bednarski
authors: Stanford University, 875 Blake Wilbur Dr Clinic D, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Knox
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001384:Azetidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009574:Nitro Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001384:Azetidines; D009574:Nitro Compounds; C577469:RRx-001; D011838:Radiation-Sensitizing Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Cancer; Chemosensitizer; Clinical trials; RRx-001; Radiosensitization; Radiosensitizer