Orgotein as a radioprotector in normal tissues. Experiments on mouse skin and a murine adenocarcinoma

The effects of Orgotein (a superoxide dismutase) on the radiation response of normal and malignant murine tissue in vivo were evaluated. The observations were made on the mouse hind leg bearing, in some cases, an adenocarcinoma. The following irradiation protocols were tested: 1) single dose (e.g., 35 and 53 Gy), 2) conventional fractionation (3 Gy/day, 5 days a week) and 3) multiple fractions per day (2 X 3 Gy/day, 3 h fractionation interval, 5 days a week). Radiation was either delivered alone or preceded by a subcutaneous injection of 20, 100 or 400 mg/kg Orgotein administered 1 or 2 h before the beginning of irradiation. No effects of Orgotein on tumor radiation response were detected. A protective effect on normal tissue was observed when radiation was delivered according to aggressive protocols and a relatively high dosage of Orgotein was administered. Furthermore, an accelerated trend of recovery of normal tissue was observed.