[Increased DNA radiosensitivity as affected by reduced derivatives of nitroimidazole and nitrofuran].

It was shown that active radiosensitizers, nitroimidazole and nitrofuran, reduced chemically and enzymatically under anaerobic conditions in the presence of DNA, cause singlestrand breaks in the latter. When this modified DNA is exposed to ionizing radiation the yield of single-strand breaks increases as compared to control (unmodified) DNA.