Structure-function dependence and allopurinol inhibition of radiosensitizer/nitroreductase interaction: approaches to improving therapeutic ratios.

Normal tissue toxicity of nitroaromatic radiosensitizers may originate in radiosensitizer/nitroreductase interaction. A study of two mammalian cell nitroreductases, xanthine oxidase and NADH cytochrome c reductase, shows that the efficiency of electron transfer is dependent on sensitizer electron affinity and not lipid solubility. Misonidazole and its demethylated metabolite (RO-05-9963), for example, are equally efficient as electron acceptors from xanthine oxidase. The only exception to the electron affinity correlation is m-nitrobenzamidine hydrochloride (MNBAM) which results because MNBAM inhibits electron donation to xanthine oxidase from its cofactor, xanthine. Allopurinol inhibits electron transfer and might be a useful adjuvant to the use of radiosensitizers. Evidence that allopurinol interacts with nitroreductases in vivo is deduced from the observation that allopurinol significantly alters the serum lifetimes in mice of misonidazole and RO-05-9963.