Interaction of irradiation and microwave-induced hyperthermia in the Dunning R3327G prostatic adenocarcinoma model.

Abstract

The interaction of radiation and hyperthermia was systematically studied in the Dunning R3327G prostatic adenocarcinoma, the preeminent animal model for human prostatic cancer. Subcutaneous tumors (produced by injection of 107 cells) were treated when they had reached a volume of about 1 cm3, which occurred about 3 weeks after implantation. With the use of a randomized complete factorial design, four factors were examined. Each agent was used at one of three dose levels. For radiation, these were 5, 15, and 25 Gy; for hyperthermia, 42.degree. C for 15 minutes, 43.degree. C for 30 minutes, and 44.degree. C for 60 minutes. Two sequences (hyperthermia plus irradiation and irradiation plus hyperthermia) and five time delays between agents (0, 12, 24, 48, and 120 hours) were used. The growth delay (the time it took for the initial tumor volume to double) of subcutaneously implanted tumor served to quantitate treatment effect. Significant (P < .05) statistical interactions were observed for several combinations of factors and individual factors. Hyperthermia plus irradiation was more effective than irradiation plus hyperthermia except at the delay time between treatments of 0 hours. Peak growth delay occurred when the time between treatments was 0-24 hours and dependended on agent doses. Many combinations produced therapeutic synergy.