Dl. Van Den Berge et al., Chronic hypoxia modulates tumour cell radioresponse through cytokine-inducible nitric oxide synthase, BR J CANC, 84(8), 2001, pp. 1122-1125
Chronic hypoxia up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of inducible n
itric oxide synthase (iNOS) in EMT-6 tumour cells exposed to interferon (IF
N)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-1 beta. Low concentrations of cytokines (1 un
it ml(-1)) in 1% but not in 21% oxygen induced a remarkable increase in NO
production and a 1.8-fold hypoxic cell radiosensitization. Therefore, chron
ic hypoxia may potentially be exploited to increase tumour cell radiorespon
se through the cytokine-inducible iNOS pathway. (C) 2001 Cancer Research Ca
mpaign.