NCIt definition : The hydrochloride salt form of pimonidazole, a hypoxia-selective 2-nitroimidazole
with potential radiosensitizing activity. Pimonidazole is reduced in hypoxic environments
such as those found in tumors. In hypoxic cells and tumors, reduced pimonidazole binds
to thiol-containing proteins and glutathione. The resulting complexes accumulate in
hypoxic tumors, deplete radioprotective thiol compounds, and cause the tumor to be
more susceptible to radiation treatment.;
Semantic type(s)