Radiation sensitizers gadolinium texaphyrins

Sessler, J.L. et al. (1999) One-Electron Reduction and Oxidation Studies of the Radiation Sensitizer Gadolinium(III) Texaphyrin (PCI-0120) and Other Water Soluble Metallotexaphyrins, J. Phys. Chem. A 103, 787-794. 

Rosenthal, D.I. et al. (1999) A phase I single-dose trial of gadolinium texaphyrin (Gd-Tex), a tumor selective radiation sensitizer detectable by magnetic resonance imaging, Clin. Cancer Res. 5, 739-745. 

Viala, J. et al. (1999) Phases IB and II multidose trial of gadolinium texaphyrin, a radiation sensitizer detectable at MR imaging preliminary results in brain metastases, Radiology 212, 755-759. 

Gadolinium texaphyrin (Gd-tex Figure 4.8) is reported to be an effective radiation sensitizer for tumour cells, whilst the corresponding lutetium compound, which absorbs light in the far-red end of the visible spectrum, is in Phase II trials for photodynamic therapy for brain tumours and breast cancer. 

Gadolinium(III) texaphyrin A tumor selective radiation sensitizer that is detectable by MRI. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 1996. 93, 6110. 

Another potentially curative application of expanded porphyrins is to use them as sensitizers in X-ray tumor therapy (XRT). While so far only proposed in the context of the gadolinium(III) texaphyrin system 10.2, such a use is one that carries within it the possible seeds of enormous societal benefit. This is because it would allow one of the most important of all cancer control strategies, namely radiation therapy, to be made more efficacious. 

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