Hyperthermic radiosensitization of hypoxic cells with chlorpromazine

Many chemical compounds of diverse structures, properties and biological activities have been found to have a profound effect on the survival of mammalian cells in vitro and in more limited studies on murine tumors in vivo when they were administered with hyperthermia (42-440C). These compounds include some of the conventional antitumor chemotherapeutics such as alkylating agents, cisplatinum, adriamycin, bleomcyin and the nitrosoureas. Furthermore, compounds have been identified that are without antitumor activity or cytotoxicity at 370C, but in the presence of elevated temperature, the cytotoxicity is greatly enhanced. These compounds include: aliphatic alcohols; aminothiols such as cysteamine; The polyene antifungal agent Amphotericin B; The local anesthetic procaine; and polycations such as spermine and DEAE-dextran. It is the purpose of this program to extend these initial observations into a dedicated, systematic study that will develop chemical agents in vitro and in vivo to enhance the effectiveness of clinical hyperthermia. Compounds will also be identified that will sensitize tumor cells in vitro and in vivo to suboptimal treatment temperatures (40-420C) and to sensitize thermotolerant cells and tumors to subsequent heat treatments. Data is presented from the authors' initial in vitro evaluation