RADIOSENSITIVITY, BLOOD PERFUSION AND TUMOR OXYGENATION AFTER PERFLUBRON EMULSION INJECTION

The effect of 90% and/or 100% w/v perflubron (perfluorooctyl bromide ( PFOB); Alliance Pharmaceutical Corp.) emulsions on radiosensitivity, t umour relative perfusion and oxygenation was studied using EMT6 tumour s in nude mice. Perflubron (2-15 ml/kg) emulsion was injected. The mic e inhaled carbogen for 30 min and 60 min prior to irradiation. The rad iosensitizing effect of the 90% w/v emulsion was maximal at 4 ml/kg. T he tumour relative perfusion diminished after injection of both 100% a nd 90% w/v emulsions in carbogen-breathing mice at a dose of 15 ml/kg. This drop could explain the lack of efficiency of these treatments at this high concentration. Lastly, tumour oxygenation was increased aft er administration of perflubron emulsion plus carbogen.