[Accumulation of metronidazole in tumors during whole-body hyperthermia induced by Sulfazin].

A study was made of metronidazole accumulation in the blood of animals and tumorous tissues of Pliss lymphosarcoma after the total moderate hyperthermia caused by subcutaneous injection of the pyrogenic drug sulfadiazine. Metronidazole concentration in the blood and tumors of hyperthermized animals was 2-3 times as high as in those of the control animals. A time shift of the maximum values of metronidazole accumulation occurred in hyperthermia. Under normal conditions the peak of accumulation was observed 2 h after the administration of the radiosensitizer whereas in hyperthermia depending on its duration it could develop 1 h earlier. Thus the total moderate hyperthermia served as a favorable background for raising metronidazole concentration in tumor opening up prospects for potentiating the radiosensitizing effect of metronidazole and perhaps some other means in the utilization of small nontoxic doses of the drug.