Radiosensitization of murine tumors by Fluosol-DA 20%.

The effect of perfluorochemicals in combination with carbogen breathing on the response of SCK tumors of mice to fractionated irradiation was investigated. The SCK tumors of A/J mice were irradiated twice a day at 3 Gy per fraction (6 Gy per day), with a total dose of 18 Gy over 3 days. When the host animals were treated with an intravenous (iv) injection of 12 ml/kg of Fluosol-DA 20% before the first daily tumor irradiation and carbogen breathing during every X irradiation with Fluosol-DA 20% injection without carbogen breathing. The hypoxic cell fraction, as determined by an in vivo-in vitro cloning assay, decreased significantly, and the intratumor pO2, as determined with microelectrodes, was markedly increased by Fluosol-DA 20% injection and carbogen breathing. It was concluded that oxygenation of hypoxic cells in SCK tumors during the course of fractionated irradiation was improved by the iv injection of Fluosol-DA 20% and carbogen breathing.