Abstract
The effects of shock waves generated by an experimental Siemens lithotripter in combination with cytostatic drugs or cytokines on several bladder cancer cell lines were examined in vitro. Proliferation after treatment was determined with the 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Dose enhancement ratios were calculated for each drug and each shock wave application mode in order to characterise the sensitising effect of shock wave pretreatment. The influence of the time between shock wave and drug treatment as well as the effects of different sequences of shock wave and drug treatment or concomitant treatment were assessed for selected combinations of cell lines and drugs. It was found that shock wave treatment could render certain cell lines more susceptible to subsequent cis-platinum, mitomycin C or actinomycin D incubation. Cell lines sensitive to tumour necrosis factor alpha or interferon alpha were further sensitised to these cytokines by shock wave pretreatment. The enhanced sensitivity to cis-platinum and actinomycin D decreased rapidly during the first hours after shock wave treatment. The antiproliferative effect was most pronounced after concomitant shock wave and drug treatment. The sensitisation to interferon alpha diminishes more slowly after shock wave exposure. From the results presented in this study it is concluded that transient shock wave-induced permeabilisation of cell membrane not only enhances drug efficiency, but also causes damage to cell organelles and alterations in cellular metabolism.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wörle, K., Steinbach, P. & Hofstädter, F. The combined effects of high-energy shock waves and cytostatic drugs or cytokines on human bladder cancer cells. Br J Cancer 69, 58–65 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.9
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1994.9
This article is cited by
-
Effects of shock waves on chondrocytes and their relevance in clinical practice
Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery (2009)
-
Sound waves and antineoplastic drugs: The possibility of an enhanced combined anticancer therapy
Journal of Medical Ultrasonics (2002)