Pancreatic tumors show high levels of hypoxia

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

PURPOSE: Because of the dismal outcomes of conventional therapies for pancreatic carcinomas, we postulated that hypoxia may exist within these tumors. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Seven sequential patients with adenocarcinomas of the pancreas consented to intraoperative measurements of tumor oxygenation using the Eppendorf (Hamburg, Germany) polargraphic electrode. RESULTS: All 7 tumors demonstrated significant tumor hypoxia. In contrast, adjacent normal pancreas showed normal oxygenation. CONCLUSION: Tumor hypoxia exists within pancreatic cancers.