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Mechanisms of Activation of Mitomycin C and AZQ in Aerobic and Hypoxic Mammalian Cells

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Selective Activation of Drugs by Redox Processes

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 198))

Abstract

The use of drugs selectively activated by redox processes has been suggested as a way to deal with radiation resistant hypoxic cells1,2,3, a cell population within solid tumors which may limit tumor control4,5. The rationale for this suggestion is as follows. Solid tumors contain poorly vascularized regions in which cells are present at a range of oxygen concentrations created by the cellular consumption of oxygen as it diffuses from the widely spaced capillaries or by fluctuating blood flow6. A number of electron affinic drugs are preferentially reduced to more active forms in the hypoxic regions because the low levels of oxygen are ineffective in back oxidizing the drug to its less active parent form7.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Division, Ontario Cancer Institute and Dept. of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 500 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4X 1K9

    A. M. Rauth & R. S. Marshall

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  1. A. M. Rauth
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  2. R. S. Marshall
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Radiobiology Unit, Didcot, Chilton, Oxon., OX11 ORD, UK

    G. E. Adams  & E. M. Fielden  & 

  2. Facoltà di Farmacia, Istituto di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi di Bologna, 40127, Bologna, Via S. Donato, 15, Italy

    A. Breccia

  3. CRC Gray Laboratory, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2JR, UK

    P. Wardman

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Rauth, A.M., Marshall, R.S. (1990). Mechanisms of Activation of Mitomycin C and AZQ in Aerobic and Hypoxic Mammalian Cells. In: Adams, G.E., Breccia, A., Fielden, E.M., Wardman, P. (eds) Selective Activation of Drugs by Redox Processes. NATO ASI Series, vol 198. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3768-7_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3768-7_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6679-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3768-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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