The effect of irradiation in air or in hyperbaric oxygen on the Fib/T tumor in WHT mice pretreated with a hypoxic gas mixture.

The effect of exposing WHT mice bearing the Fib/T tumor to a low-oxygen environment (8, 10, and 15% oxygen) for 48 h or 72 h before irradiation was compared, using an in vitro colony-forming excision assay, to the effect obtained when mice were pretreated with air. The response of the Fib/T tumor to radiation delivered in air was improved both by a 48-h and by a 72-h exposure of the animals to 8, 10, and 15% oxygen. However, the greatest tumor sensitization was achieved when mice were kept in 8% oxygen for 48 h before irradiation. These results are interpreted and discussed in relation to increases in the 2,3-DPG concentration, which were shown to occur when mice were exposed to a reduced oxygen environment. The relative importance of two models proposed to explain these findings is assessed. If mice pretreated with air were irradiated in hyperbaric oxygen, a similar tumor response was observed compared to that when mice were exposed to 8% oxygen for 48 h and then irradiated in air.