|
Hypoxic PCa Cells: "Treatment outcome
worsens with decreasing tissue oxygenation." (December 2002)
A group from Fox Chase Cancer Center reported in the
October 2002 UROLOGY, pp 634-639, the measurement of the partial pressure
of oxygen in prostate cancer tissue of 57 men just prior to brachytherapy.
The oxygenation level of nearby muscle tissue was also measured and a
ratio calculated. For each subject 100 readings were taken along 3 to 5
needle tracts with the microelectrode. Their study goal was to relate
tissue hypoxia with PSA outcome. Median follow-up was 19 months. As
predicted from their earlier work, tumor tissue was relatively poorly
oxygenated with a group median of PO2 of 2.5 mmHg. The average PO2 for
muscle tissue was 30 mmHg. PC PO2 levels of 1.2 significantly predicted
treatment failure becoming evident as early as 2 years post treatment. A
PC/muscle ratio of less than 0.05 was even more significant for failure,
P=.0002.
Hypoxia in neoplastic tissue is well recognized, but the authors believe
that this is the first study relating tissue hypoxia to treatment outcome.
Additionally, the finding points to the possible usefulness of agents,
such as tirapazamine, that sensitize hypoxic tissue to radiation damage.
«
Back to Article List |
