Free radical mechanisms in anti-cancer drug research

Free radical mechanisms in anti-cancer drug research 

Gray Laboratory Cancer Research Trust, P.O. Box 100, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 2JR, United Kingdom 

A chapter in an earlier compilation [1] bringing together fundamentals and applications of radiation chemistry illustrated applications to biochemistry and radiobiology. That chapter mainly described studies of redox processes in proteins and biomolecules. It therefore seemed appropriate to focus instead a major part of the present review on free radicals derived from xenobiotic molecules, especially drugs of interest in cancer therapy. 

As was noted in the earlier chapter, radiation chemistry in this context is used as a tool rather than as a means to understand radiation effects. It is a powerful tool. Intermediate free radicals from drug oxidation or reduction can be readily produced, in known concentrations, in a microsecond or so, and their reactions followed directly. The tool is well established, and not very expensive if the capital investment is depreciated over the lifetime of the equipment, or if skills are available to refurbish accelerators after their economic life in radiotherapy centres. 

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