Tumor hypoxia is important in radiotherapy, but how should we measure it?
The issues surrounding tumor oxygenation and radiotherapy used to be simple. Hypoxic
cells are radioresistant and are present in a large proportion of human solid tumors; in
addition, overall tumor oxygenation (as determined by a commercially available oxygen
electrode, commonly referred to as the Eppendorf electrode) correlates with response to
radiotherapy. Because of its correlations with clinical outcomes (particularly in head-and-
neck tumors), the Eppendorf electrode has become “the gold standard” against which all …
cells are radioresistant and are present in a large proportion of human solid tumors; in
addition, overall tumor oxygenation (as determined by a commercially available oxygen
electrode, commonly referred to as the Eppendorf electrode) correlates with response to
radiotherapy. Because of its correlations with clinical outcomes (particularly in head-and-
neck tumors), the Eppendorf electrode has become “the gold standard” against which all …