NCIt definition : A 2-nitroimidazole with hypoxic selectivity and potential radiosensitizing activities.
Pimonidazole is reduced in hypoxic environments such as those found in tumors. In
hypoxic cells, reduced pimonidazole binds to thiol-containing proteins. The resulting
complexes accumulate in hypoxic tumors, thereby depleting radioprotective thiol compounds
and sensitizing tumor cells to be more susceptible for radiation treatment.;