The search for new hypoxic cell radiosensitizers.

A number of newly synthesized compounds whose chemical structure suggested possible or remotely possible ability to radiosensitize hypoxic mammalian cells were studied in an in-vitro system. Those compounds that were not excluded because of insolubility or extreme cytotoxicity were tested for radiosensitizing ability. The correlation between chemical structure and radiosensitizing ability will be used for the rational design of additional compounds with a high probability of being effective hypoxic cell radiosensitizers. It is hoped that this will contribute to attempts to improve the cure rate of patients with malignant tumors through the use of radiation therapy and hypoxic cell radiosensitizers.