[Present status of hypoxic cell sensitizers and PLDR inhibitors].

Clinical and basic studies in hypoxic cell radiosensitizers and potentially lethal damage (PLD) repair inhibitors were reviewed. Most clinical trails on misonidazole (MISO) show that the toxicity of MISO is a major reason for failure in the trials and an adequate selection of tumors is needed for the success. Phase III studies on SR-2508 and RO 03-8799, less toxic and more effective sensitizers, are in progress. AK-2123 and RK-28 developed in Japan are drugs with similar clinical applicability of MISO. Thiol depletion of tumors is one of the way to increase the radiosensitization. The measurement of intercapillary distance on histopathological microslide is a valuable method to select the tumors containing much hypoxic cell fractions. Stable and effective chemicals as MISO in hypoxic cell sensitization must be developed to investigate the clinical applicability of PLD repair inhibitors.