RESPONSE OF HUMAN HEMATOPOIETIC PRECURSOR CELLS (CFU-C) TO HYPERTHERMIA AND RADIATION

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 42  (4) , 1261-1265
Abstract
Currently, whole-body and local hyperthermia is being evaluated in clinical studies as a potential method of cancer treatment. Since the hyperthermic sensitivity of normal human bone marrow cells is not known, the in vitro response of these cells to 2 anticancer modalities when administered alone or in combination was studied. Cell survival following various treatment schedules was determined by colony formation of bone marrow cells in soft agar suspensions. Within the survival range studied, a thermal tolerant plateau on the cell survival was not observed for temperatures of 42.degree. C or less. However, thermotolerance induction could not be ruled out. In addition, when hyperthermia (42.5.degree. for 1 h) and radiation (100 rads) were sequenced, the human CFUc [hematopoietic precursor cells; colony forming cells] survival remained the same regardless of whether the radiation was administered before, during, or after the hyperthermic exposure. Under these experimental conditions, human CFUc were more radiosensitive (Do [median lethal dose] = 84 rad) than what was reported previously. The radiation survival response of human CFUc was similar for cells irradiated either in vitro or in vivo. The possible clinical implications for these data are discussed.