Abstract
In order to examine the feasibility of using cyclic peroxides as sensitizer for the hyperthermic treatment of cancer, we studied temperature dependent OH radical generation from two synthetic cyclic peroxides, 4-ethoxy-1, 4-dihydro-2, 3-benzodioxin-1-ol and 4-ethoxy-1, 4-dihydro-2, 3-benzodioxepin-1-ol. The amounts of 5, 5-dimethyl-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO)-OH adduct formed as a result of decomposition of these cyclic peroxides increased markedly at temperatures of above approximately 30 and 40°C, respectively (degradation temperatures). Peroxide-mediated degradation of cytochrome c was also markedly enhanced above these temperatures. These results suggest that biologicaly effective OH radical can be produced specifically under thermally controlled conditions from certain cyclic peroxides.
