TUMOR OXYGENATION AFTER (1) CARBOGEN AND OR PERFLUBRON EMULSION ADMINISTRATION IN TUMOR XENOGRAFTS (2) CARBOGEN ADMINISTRATION IN PATIENTS/

This study examines the changes in tumor pO(2) distribution assessed b y polarography (KIMOC 6650, Eppendorf) in 1) two human tumor xenograft s after carbogen inhalation with or without a perflubron (perfluorooct ylbromide) emulsion (Oxygent(TM), Alliance Pharmaceutical corp.) and i n 2) human head and neck carcinomas after carbogen inhalation. Mice be aring HRT18 or NA11+ tumors were restrained and their body temperature was kept constant. Perflubron emulsion (4 ml/kg) was injected i.v. in the mice. In patients, oxygenation of the head and neck metastatic ly mph nodes was assessed before and/or during carbogen exposure. The dis tribution of pO(2) values shifted upwards during carbogen exposure in both animals and patients while the proportion of low pO(2) values dec reased. The maximal effect was obtained with patients after 1 to 6 min utes of carbogen exposure, but 4 patients still maintained very low pO (2)s. Carbogen plus 4 ml/kg perflubron emulsion was more efficient tha n carbogen alone for increasing hypoxic tumor pO(2) in animals. If the animals data could be extrapolated to humans, then the effect of carb ogen on tumor oxygenation should be increased by perflubron emulsion a dministration.