Effects of RSU-1069 in repair-deficient mammalian cells

RSU-1069, a 2-nitroimidazole with an N/sub 1/ substituent terminating in an aziridine function, was designed to have both alkylating and radiosensitizing properties. The compound has been shown to be a more potent radiation sensitizer than misonidazole both invitro and in vivo despite their essentially identical electron affinities. While it is tempting to assume that this increased radiosensitizing ability is related to DNA alkylation, the authors own limited chemical studies have failed to demonstrate such activity. In an attempt to understand the mode of action of the compound, the authors are examining its biological effects in a variety of DNA repair-deficient cell lines