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With the increasing incidence of cancer worldwide, the need for specific, effective therapies is ever more urgent. One example of targeted cancer therapeutics is hypoxia-activated prodrugs (HAPs), also known as bioreductive prodrugs. These prodrugs are inactive in cells with normal oxygen levels but in hypoxic cells (with low oxygen levels) undergo chemical reduction to the active compound. Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors and is associated with a more aggressive phenotype and resistance to all modes of therapy. Therefore, the combination of radiation therapy and bioreductive drugs presents an attractive opportunity for synergistic effects, because the HAP targets the radiation-resistant hypoxic cells. Hypoxia-activated prodrugs have typically been precursors of DNA-damaging agents, but a new generation of molecularly targeted HAPs is emerging. By targeting proteins associated with tumorigenesis and survival, these compounds may result in greater selectivity over healthy tissue. We review the clinical progress of HAPs as adjuncts to radiation therapy and conclude that the use of HAPs alongside radiation is vastly underexplored at the clinical level.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.03.024

Type

Journal article

Journal

Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

Publication Date

01/08/2017

Volume

98

Pages

1183 - 1196

Keywords

Antineoplastic Agents, Clinical Trials as Topic, Combined Modality Therapy, Humans, Molecular Targeted Therapy, Neoplasm Proteins, Neoplasms, Phenotype, Prodrugs, Radiation Tolerance, Tumor Hypoxia