Effects of continuous therapeutic ultrasound on growth and metastasis of subcutaneous murine tumors

Rehabilitation Medicine Department, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE. The use of therapeutic ultrasound (US) in the presence of malignant neoplasms has been contraindicated in physical therapy practice despite a lack of convincing scientific evidence. Some studies have shown that high levels of US, which increase tissue temperatures greater than 42 degrees C, can kill tumors. We sought to determine whether the application of continuous therapeutic US would alter the growth or metastasis of methylcholanthrene-induced solid tumors in mice. SUBJECTS. Seventy-one female C57BL/6 mice, age 6 to 8 weeks, received subcutaneous injections of 5 x 10(5) tumor cells. METHODS. When tumors grew to 0.5 cm in diameter, the mice were randomly assigned to either a control group (n = 34) or an experimental group (n = 37). The experimental group received 10 treatments over a 2-week period of 3-MHz continuous US at 1.0 W/cm2 for 5 minutes, using a 0.5-cm2 sound head directly over the tumor. The control group received the same handling except for the US treatment. Tumor dimensions were measured on days 1 (baseline), 7 (midtreatment), and 14 (preexcision and postexcision). Tumors were weighed after excision, and the mice were evaluated by necropsy and histopathology of regional lymph nodes. RESULTS. All tumors grew larger over time, but final tumor volume and weight were larger in the experimental group (789 mm3 and 0.932 g) than in the control group (395 mm3 and 0.506 g). No significant difference existed in the number of metastatic lymph nodes between groups. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION. Continuous therapeutic US increased the volume and weight of subcutaneous murine tumors in mice. We urge caution in the use of continuous therapeutic US in the areas of tumors or suspected tumors.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V. J Robertson and K. G Baker A Review of Therapeutic Ultrasound: Effectiveness Studies Physical Therapy, July 1, 2001; 81(7): 1339 - 1350. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Harris, M. R. Hugi, I. A. Olivotto, and M. Levine Clinical practice guidelines for the care and treatment of breast cancer: 11. Lymphedema Can. Med. Assoc. J., January 1, 2001; 164(2): 191 - 199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]