In experiments on Ehrlich ascites tumor cells it was shown that hypoxia, which reduces the lethal effect of gamma-rays, can considerably enhance the injury of cells by glucose. Treatment of tumor cells with glucose in hypoxic conditions followed by exposure to ionizing radiation under both hypoxia and normal aeration causes a 6-7-fold increase in cell injury as compared to irradiation alone. Moreover, the glucose treatment in hypoxic conditions (without concomitant irradiation) may cause approximately 99% death of tumor cells. The data obtained permit to consider the glucose treatment as an effective means by breaking the tumor radioresistance conditioned by a pool of hypoxic cells.
Animals Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor