The search for electron affinic compounds that exhibit the properties needed for a clinically useful hypoxic cell radiosensitizer has led to the setting up of clinical trials with misonidazole, which is a 2-nitroimidazole. Recently, MTDQ a new drug of novel design, a dihydroquinoline (6,6-methylene-bis-2,2,4-trimethyl-1,2-dihydroquinoline)has been synthesized and suggested as a radiosensitizer. The radiosensitizing and cytotoxic properties of misonidazole are compared with MTDQ and a second 2-nitroimadazole Ro-07-0741, which has warranted attention as a possible alternative to misonidazole for clinical use.

jective response to combined therapy; 51/64 patients (80%) had complete relief of all symptoms , some patients returning to full occupational activity.None of the patients can be considered cured, and these patients as well as others will have to be followed for many years.A few observations can be made regarding combined therapy, ionizing radiation and heat.Microwave therapy is well tolerated by advanced cancer patients with no apparent ill effects.Palliation of pain, bleeding, tumor growth, etc. is often dramatic with combined therapy and is seen after radiation alone has failed to control the tumor.Whether this combined therapy represents an enhanced effect over radiation alone in humans (as has been demonstrated with our animal studies) must be evaluated on a randomized clinical trial.Tumor temperature measurement continues to remain a technically difficult problem.