Effect of combined treatment with hyperthermia and epinephrine of human oral carcinoma transplanted in nude mice

Abstract

We investigated the effect of the combined treatment with hyperthermia and epinephrine of human oral carcinoma (KB cells) transplanted subcutaneously in the leg of BALB/cA nude mice. Upon obtaining tumors of about 8 mm diameter, we performed the following treatments. Hyperthermia was carried out in a water bath at 39, 41 and 43°C for 30 minutes. Epinephrine was injected intraperitoneally or intratumorally. Single or combined treatments were performed on days 0, 3 and 6, and tumor size was measured. The relative mean tumor weight (RW) compared with day 0 was calculated. The relationship of combined treatment and individual anti-tumor effects were compared by the ratio of the relative mean tumor weights for the treatment and control groups. The potentiation ratio of the effect of epinephrine with hyperthermia was calculated for each dose and concentration.
We found that intratumoral, intraperitoneal injection of epinephrine alone, and combined treatment with hyperthermia and epinephrine injected intraperitoneally had no beneficial effects. Combined treatment with hyperthermia and epinephrine injected intratumorally seemed to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of the KB cells. The sensitizing effect depended on the concentration of epinephrine.
We concluded that the combination of hyperthermia and intratumoral injection of epinephrine is an effective treatment. Shika Igaku (J Osaka Odontol Soc) 1996 Sept; 59 (3): 227-236.