Abstract
The mechanism involved in the potentiation of cell killing and antitumor activity which result from combined treatments with hyperthermia and chemotherapeutic drugs is believed to be an increase in DNA damage caused by an increase in drug uptake. These events can be brought about by the disruption of membrane permeability by hyperthermia. It has recently been suggested that the contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to the cytotoxic activity of anti-cancer drugs may be important in combined treatments utilizing hyperthermia and chemotherapeutic drugs. The present review examines the possibility that ROS, generated from chemotherapeutic drugs or by interactions between chemotherapeutic drugs and biomaterials or hyperthermia, may make a major contribution to the potentiation of cell killing and antitumor activity in thermochemotherapy.
