The potential for radiation sensitizers and radiation protectors combined with radiation therapy in gynecologic cancer

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Abstract
Radiation sensitizers are agents which can increase the lethal properties of ionizing radiation when administered in conjunction with radiation therapy. They increase radiosensitivity without being innately toxic and give rise to significant increase in the radiation sensitivity of neoplasm over normal tissues. Much laboratory work, mostly in vitro, has shown that many chemical compounds can act as radiation sensitizers. The practicality depends upon the exploitation of the differences between normal and malignant cells when radiation sensitizers are used. Many tumors contain hypoxic cells which are relatively resistant to the lethal effects of ionizing radiation. In human tumors, these hypoxic cells present a potential barrier to successful treatment. The application of chemical radiosensitizers active against hypoxic cells offers great potential for improvement in cancer management using radiation therapy. Data is presented to illustrate the usefulness of these agents in gynecologic cancer.