BW12C perturbs normal and tumour tissue oxygenation and blood flow in man

The effects of escalating doses of BW12C on normal tissue and tumour blood flow and pO2 in patients were studied. BW12C infusion resulted in a significant reduction in median subcutaneous tissue pO2, and an increase in the proportion of hypoxic values (< or = 2.5 mmHg). In 8 of 9 patients with accessible tumours there was a significant reduction in pO2 during BW12C infusion, but no effect on the proportion of hypoxic values. A rapid decline in normal tissue pO2 in the first 10 min was associated with an increase in skin red cell flux and a reduction of normal subcutaneous tissue, muscle, and tumour red cell flux of 30-50%, that was maintained throughout a subsequent 1-h infusion of BW12C. Tumour perfusion, as measured by dynamic computed tomography, was slightly reduced in five out of six patients studied during BW12C infusion. BW12C reduces both subcutaneous tissue and tumour pO2 in patients. Both haemoglobin modification and reduction in blood flow are probably associated with this effect.