Induction of hypoxia in normal and malignant tissues by changing the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin--implications for therapy.

The drug BW12C, which increases the oxygen affinity of hemoglobin, reduces oxygen availability to tissues. This results in protection against radiation damage to the hemopoietic system and epidermal Langerhans cells in CBA mice. The drug also protects against beta-irradiation damage in pig epidermis. BW12C increases the hypoxic cell fraction in tumors and histological examination of an experimental T cell lymphoma shows that the induced hypoxia leads to tumor necrosis.