Heterogeneous Oxygenation of Rectal Carcinomas in Humans: A Critical Parameter for Preoperative Irradiation?

Abstract
The surgical treatment of rectal carcinoma in humans is often combined with irradiation. However, the efficacy of this latter treatment modality is crucially influenced by the oxygenation status of the tumor tissue to be treated. Therefore, the knowledge of the O2 supply to the tumor tissue is a decisive prerequisite for the assessment of the efficiency of radiotherapy.