Etanidazole is a
nitroimidazole
5-Nitroimidazole is an organic compound with the formula O2NC3H2N2H. The nitro group at position 5 on the imidazole ring is the most common positional isomer. The term nitroimidazole also refers to a class of antibiotics that share similar chemi ...
drug that was investigated in
clinical trial
Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel vaccines, drugs, dietar ...
s for its
radiosensitizing
A radiosensitizer is an agent that makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. It is sometimes also known as a radiation sensitizer or radio-enhancer.
Mechanism of action
Conventional chemotherapeutics are currently being used in con ...
properties in cancer treatment. Administration of etanidazole results in a decrease of
glutathione
Glutathione (GSH, ) is an antioxidant in plants, animals, fungi, and some bacteria and archaea. Glutathione is capable of preventing damage to important cellular components caused by sources such as reactive oxygen species, free radicals, pero ...
concentration and
inhibits glutathione ''S''-transferase. The result is that tissues become more sensitive to the
ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation (or ionising radiation), including nuclear radiation, consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them. Some particles can travel ...
.
See also
*
18F-EF5, a related nitroimidazole
*
Misonidazole
Misonidazole is a radiosensitizer that was investigated in clinical trials. It was used in these trials for radiation therapy to cause normally resistant hypoxic
Hypoxia means a lower than normal level of oxygen, and may refer to:
Reduced or ins ...
References
Nitroimidazoles
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