# QUANTITATION OF HYPOXIC TUMOR CELLS

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRITISH COLUMBIA CANCER AGENCY · 1991 · $89,686

## Abstract

DESCRIPTION (adapted from the applicant's abstract):  The overall aim of
this application is to develop methods to identify, quantify, and isolate
radioresistant and possibly chemoresistant hypoxic cells from solid tumors.
Factors which might influence the nature and development of tumor hypoxia
will also be examined.  The results obtained in the previous grant period
indicate that chronically and acutely hypoxic cells in tumors may be
identified using fluorescent molecules with limited ability to diffuse
through solid tissues (Hoechst 33342, DiOC7) fluorescent molecules which
are metabolized and bound by hypoxic cells (AF-2, NFVO),and fluoroescent
molecules whose metabolism is dependent upon the redox state of the cell
(hydroethidine).  In the next grant period, the investigators will 1)
continue to search for new agents less toxic, more stable and/or more
fluorescent than those currently available, 2) determine whether combining
fluorescent redox probes, perfusion probes and hypoxia probes can improve
their ability to identify and sort hypoxic tumor cells, 3) examine the
relationship between tumor hypoxia, tumor respiration rate and vascular
density, 4) determine whether hypoxic tumor cells adapt to low oxygen
conditions and may therefore be susceptible to oxygen toxicity (reperfusion
injury) and 5) examine characteristics of normal cells in tumors which
might influence tumor hypoxia.  Multicell spheroids composed of Chinese
hamster V79 lung fibroblasts and WIDR human adenocarcinoma cells will be
used to screen fluorescent compounds for use as hypoxia markers.  The
SCCVII squamous cell carcinoma growing in C3H mice will be used to test
these probes for their ability to identify hypoxic cells in vivo.  Human
tumor xenografts growing in nude mice will be used to address the question
of the role of tumor respiration rate and vascular density in development
of tumor hypoxia.  Fluorescence activated cell sorting and fluorescence
imaging methods will be applied to identify and select cells for
clonogenicity measurement following radiation treatment.  Results from
these studies should significantly improve our understanding of solid tumor
biology and may ultimately provide us with methods to identify and quantify
hypoxic cells in solid tumors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3175780
- **Project number:** 5R01CA037879-08
- **Recipient organization:** BRITISH COLUMBIA CANCER AGENCY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LKF9B2BABMM6
- **Principal Investigator:** PEGGY L OLIVE
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1991
- **Award amount:** $89,686
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-03-01 → 1993-02-28

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3175780

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3175780, QUANTITATION OF HYPOXIC TUMOR CELLS (5R01CA037879-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3175780. Licensed CC0.

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