BW12C PERTURBS NORMAL AND TUMOR-TISSUE OXYGENATION AND BLOOD-FLOW IN MAN

The effects of escalating doses of BW12C on normal tissue and tumour b lood flow and pO(2) in patients were studied. BW12C infusion resulted in a significant reduction in median subcutaneous tissue pO(2), and an increase in the proportion of hypoxic values (less than or equal to 2 .5 mmHg). In 8 of 9 patients with accessible tumours there was a signi ficant reduction in pO(2) during BW12C infusion, but no effect on the proportion of hypoxic values. A rapid decline in normal tissue pO(2) i n the first 10 min was associated with an increase in skin red cell fl ux and a reduction of normal subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and tumour r ed cell flux of 30-50%, that was maintained throughout a subsequent 1- h infusion of BW12C. Tumour perfusion, as measured by dynamic computed tomography, was slightly reduced in five out of six patients studied during BW12C infusion. BW12C reduces both subcutaneous tissue and tumo ur pO(2) in patients. Both haemoglobin modification and reduction in b lood flow are probably associated with this effect.