Effects of Interstitial Irradiation alone, or in Combination with Localized Hyperthermia on the Response of a Mouse Mammary Tumor

Abstract

Assessment has been made on the effects of interstitial irradiation from 226Ra and localized hyperthermia, either alone or in combination, on the growth of a transplantable mammary sarcoma (EMT6) in the mouse. Tumor responses to the combined treatments indicated a maked interaction of these two agents. Localized hyperthermia (43°Celsius, 1 hr) combined with interstitial irradiation led to greater than a 60 percent reduction in tumor volume after 4 days of continuous treatment, compared to only a 20 percent reduction in tumor volume when either agent was given alone. These data suggest that such combined treatment may be of benefit in certain localized human cancers in which interstitial radiation treatment is in current use.