ENHANCED EFFECT OF COMBINED HYPERTHERMIA AND CHEMOTHERAPY (BLEOMYCIN, BCNU) IN A NEUROGENIC RAT-TUMOR (BT4A) INVIVO

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 2  (6) , 359-364
Abstract
The neurogenic rat tumor BT4A was serially transplanted to the dorsum of the right hind leg of BD IX rats. The tumors were treated with a water bath heated at 44.0.degree. C for 1 h alone or combined with bleomycin or BCNU [1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea], both given i.p. at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Bleomycin alone had no effect on tumor growth. Hyperthermia or BCNU alone both caused a transient growth delay before regrowth. Combination of hyperthermia and bleomycin caused a significantly enhanced effect with 8 partial regressions in 9 tumors. BCNU and hyperthermia resulted in 9 complete and 1 partial regressions of 10 treated tumors. Eight of these were cured. The antitumor effects and the side effects caused by the combination of local hyperthermia and systemic administration of BCNU and bleomycin deserve further investigation.