1: Eur J Cancer. 2009 May;45(8):1352-69. Epub 2009 Jan 17.

Nitric oxide delivery to cancer: why and how?

Sonveaux P, Jordan BF, Gallez B, Feron O.

Unit of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL),
Avenue E. Mounier 52, B-1200 Brussels, Belgium.

Hypoxia and blood flow heterogeneities are characteristics of solid tumours and
are major obstacles for therapy. Exploiting the biology of nitric oxide (NO), a
small radical with multiple functions, is particularly attractive to circumvent
these sources of resistance and to sensitise tumour to cytotoxic treatments such 
as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Indeed, while NO mediates angiogenic effects,
NO may also promote tumour perfusion, drug delivery and oxygenation. Different
strategies to deliver NO to tumours and pertaining to the FECS-EJC award
laureate's work are reviewed, with a focus on their therapeutic potential. The
development of techniques to monitor how and to which extent NO delivery
influences the phenotype of a given tumour in a given patient is also discussed.


PMID: 19153039 [PubMed - in process]

Related Links

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