Premium
Blood flow and oxygenation of tumors in mice. III. Effects of breathing amyl nitrite in oxygen on radiosensitivity of the C3H tumor
Author(s) -
Kruuv J. A.,
Inch W. R.,
McCredie J. A.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(1967)20:1<66::aid-cncr2820200110>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - radiosensitivity , oxygenation , oxygen , amyl nitrite , medicine , nitrite , oxygen tension , blood flow , inhalation , breathing , anesthesia , chemistry , radiation therapy , organic chemistry , nitrate
Mice with established isoimplants of the C3H tumor grown in the subcutaneous tissues of the back were allowed to breathe amyl nitrite in oxygen at one atm pressure. Blood flow, measured with a thermo‐stromuhr, was decreased in the tumor but increased in adjacent normal tissues. Tumor oxygenation which was determined with a platinum microelectrode, was decreased markedly. The isoimplants were irradiated while the animals breathed the gas mixture to a total dose of 4,200 rad given in 2 fractions at an interval of 4 days. There was a marked decrease in “cure” rate at 100 days in animals irradiated during inhalation of amyl nitrite in oxygen compared with those treated while breathing pure oxygen. The results show that the vasodilator amyl nitrite, instead of enhancing the effect of radiotherapy by increasing the oxygen tension in the tumor, decreased blood flow and oxygenation and protected the cancer cells from the effects of x‐radiation.