INTERACTION OF AMPHOTERICIN-B AND 43DEGREES HYPERTHERMIA

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (3) , 761-764
Abstract
At 43.degree. C (but not at 41.degree. C), the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B effectively inactivates mammalian cells in vitro, even at doses which are used prophylactically, routinely and continuously in some tissue culture laboratories. The greatly enhanced killing may reflect interactions between the drug and hyperthermia at the level of the cells'' plasma membrane. A similar enhancement of cell killing at 43.degree. C was seen when cells were exposed to nonisotonic salt solutions. Another polyene, nystatin, shows no temperature dependence, at least over the dose range examined, while another antifungal agent, polymyxin B, does so only at very high doses. The in vitro thermosensitivity of cells to amphotericin B is reflected in vivo: EMT-6 rat mammary tumor cells were killed more efficiently in situ at 43 than at 37.degree. C. Amphotericin B may be a useful agent in multiple drug thermochemotherapy.