Metronidazole (Flagyl), misonidazole (Ro 07-0582), iron, zinc and sulphur compounds in cancer therapy

verfasst von

D. Bahnemann, H. Basaga, J. R. Dunlop, A. J. Searle, R. L. Willson

Abstract

The nitro radiosensitizers, metronidazole and misonidazole, have been shown to react rapidly with the sulphydryl compounds cysteine and cysteamine in the presence of ferrous ions. Similar reactions occur in the presence of copper ions but these are much slower. The initial interactions of the drugs and of oxygen with an iron-cysteine complex are extremely rapid: in the case of oxygen reaction half lives of 27 ms have been measured. Misonidazole also reacts rapidly with glutathione in the presence of ferrous ions and is subsequently reduced: metronidazole is reduced only slowly if at all. These reactions, which have been found to be inhibited by high concentrations of zinc ions, are discussed in the light of the known radiosensitizing and chemotherapeutic efficiencies of the nitro drugs and the side effect of peripheral neuropathy sometimes observed during their clinical use.

Organisationseinheit(en)

Institut für Technische Chemie

Typ

Artikel

Journal

British Journal of Cancer

Band

37

Seiten

16-19

Anzahl der Seiten

4

ISSN

0007-0920

Publikationsdatum

1978

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Onkologie, Krebsforschung

Ziele für nachhaltige Entwicklung

SDG 3 – Gute Gesundheit und Wohlergehen