Radiosensitizers & Radioprotectors:
Radio sensitizers and radio protectors are chemicals that modify a cell's response to radiation. Radio sensitizers are drugs that make cancer cells more sensitive to the effects of radiation therapy.
Some anticancer drugs, such as 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin are effective in making the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Radio protectors are drugs that protect normal (noncancerous) cells from the damage caused by radiation therapy. These agents promote the repair of normal cells that are exposed to radiation. E.g. amifostine is the only drug approved by the FDA as a radio protector.
