James J. Fischer

Laboratory and clinical studies have been carried out to investigate the potential usefulness of perfluorocarbons to improve tissue oxygenation for radiation therapy. Laboratory experiments using rodent model tumor systems strongly suggest that the maximum benefit of using perfluorocarbons as oxygen transport agents will be achieved only when they are used in combination with hyperbaric oxygen. As a result of such studies, a phase I clinical trial was carried out in patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated with radiation with Fluosol and hyperbaric oxygen. Twenty patients were treated and toxicity was acceptable. Ongoing laboratory studies have suggested that perfluoro-octylbromine based preparations should be superior to Fluosol for improving tumoroxygenation. Clinical studies using this compound will commence in the near future.Extensive laboratory studies of bioreductive alkylating agents as selective killers of radiation resistant hypoxic cells have been, and are being, carried out. Such studies have led to the clinical trials of mitomycin C and porfiromycin as adjuncts to radiation therapy. Present laboratory satudies center about new synthetic agents which are even more promising than mitomycin C and porfiromycin.Laboratory studies are underway to investigate the potential usefulness of altered hemoglobins, mutant human hemoglobins and fish Root effect hemoglobins to improve tumor oxygenation. Improved tumor oxygenation has been demonstrated in a rodent tumor model following exchange transfusion with stroma-free hemoglobin III of the American rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri.

I wish to be contacted by interested students (medical, graduate or undergraduates) as a potential research mentor/thesis advisor.