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P Wardman

Publications and source records attributed to P Wardman.

103 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

Structure-activity relationships in the development of hypoxic cell radiosensitizers. II. Cytotoxicity and therapeutic ratio.

This paper describes measurements of the aerobic cytotoxicity of 42 nitroaromatic and nitroheterocyclic compounds towards Chinese Hamster cells in vitro. The results of acute and chronic exposure were quantified, and the concentration C required to achieve a standard response estimated. Fitting the data to an equation of the form - log C = b0 + b1E, where E is the one-electron reduction potential, explained 47 and 71 per cent of the variance in the acute and chronic aerobic cytotoxicity respectively. The addition of further terms to the equation, quantifying partition properties, was not statistically significant. The coefficient b1 was similar for both acute and chronic exposure; the dependence of both cytotoxicity and radiosensitization efficiency on reduction potential was also similar. A therapeutic ratio derived from these in vitro measurements showed no dependence on redox or partition properties. The insensitivity of cytotoxicity and radiosensitization properties to variations in molecular structure, other than those which influence redox behaviour, offers exceptional flexibility in developing compounds of improved therapeutic ratio.

Animals↗

The rationale for the development of improved hypoxic cell radiosensitizers.

This paper outlines the chemical background to the selection of compounds likely to be clinically superior to the nitroimidazoles currently being evaluated in cancer therapy. The most important chemical properties to consider are electron affinity and lipophilicity, and the quantification and prediction of both these properties are considered. Examples are presented of the use of multiple regression analysis to evaluate the relative contribution of individual properties to the overall biological response.

Nitroimidazoles↗

A pulse radiolysis study of some free radical reactions with erythrocyte membranes.

The reactions of the free radicals eaq- minus, OH and Br2- minus with haemoglobin-free erythrocyte ghost membranes have been studied by producing the radicals by pulse radiolysis and monitoring their reactions by optical spectroscopy. Hydrated electrons react rapidly with the membrane, but no attack at disulphide links was observed. Hydroxyl radical attack produced transient species absorbing weakly in the ultraviolet, which may arise from carbohydrate residues, such as N-acetyl neuraminic acid and N-acetyl glucosamine, on the membrane surface. No evidence was obtained for OH attack at ring-containing amino acid residues of the protein component. The Br2- minus radical, a more selective electrophile than OH, reacted only slowly with erythrocyte ghosts. Solubilization of the membranes with dodecylsulphate or digestion with alkali exposed protein containing tyrosine and tryptophan residues which reacted with Br2- minus. These results support other evidence for the absence of reactive protein at the membrane surface.

Acetamides↗

Radiosensitization by non-nitro compounds.

The effects of 23 non-nitro compounds on the radiosensitivity of hypoxic Chinese hamster V79-379A or E. coli AB 1157 cells in vitro are outlined. Imidazole derivatives substituted with several alternative electron-withdrawing groups are described; the dicyanovinyl function conferred considerable radiosensitizing activity. 2,4,5-Tribromoimidazole and 2,4-dinitrophenol may show unusual radiosensitizing activity because of interference with oxidative phosphorylation. Attempts to influence radiosensitivity by compounds potentially capable of depleting intracellular sulphydryls are also described.

Animals↗

Reduction of nitroimidazoles in model chemical and biological systems.

Some chemical and biological properties of intermediates obtained during reduction of nitroimidazoles are discussed. These include: rate data for the decay of the nitro radical-anion, stoichiometry and absorption spectra for reduction via the radical-anion or using dithionite, stoichiometry with other reducing agents, and rate of reduction by xanthine/xanthine oxidase. Increased radiosensitization by misonidazole is seen upon prolonged pre-irradiation incubation using E. coli, enabling demonstration that a freely-diffusable metabolite is responsible for this effect. Preliminary experiments designed to extend studies of the radiobiological properties of extracellularly-added metabolites to mammalian cells and the use of liver perfusion to generate metabolites are described.

Animals↗