[Direct-current treatment of chemically induced mammary carcinoma in an animal model: MR volumetric assessment of the effect of the therapy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of direct current treatment (DCT) on the growth of mammary carcinomas in rats by MR-volumetry.


METHODS
Chemically induced mammary adenocarcinomas in a control group (n = 17) were compared with treated tumours (18 C/cm3 in group A: n = 7 or 36 C/cm3 in group B: n = 12). 31 untreated tumours were situated near a treated tumour (group C). Experiments were carried out using one positive electrode in the tumour centre and three negative electrodes in the periphery. The tumour volume was measured by MRI before, and 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks after treatment.


RESULTS
12 weeks after DCT, the mean tumour volume in group A (164% +/- 158%, p < 0.05) and group B (13% +/- 24%, p < 0.001) was significantly reduced compared to the control group (434% +/- 230, Mann-Whitney U-Test). Complete tumour regression occurred in 42% of tumours in group B and was not achieved in group A, C and control group. Tumour growth in group C was decreased compared to the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The effectiveness of DCT was found to depend on the applied dosage -36 C/cm3 was more effective than 18 C/cm3. The effect of DCT is not limited to the area between the electrodes.
Krüger
K
K
Institut und Poliklinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Universität zu Köln. karsten.Krueger@Uni-Koeln.de
Heindel
W
W
Fielder
K
K
Gossmann
A
A
Kugel
H
H
Schäfer
H
H
Raab
M
M
Li
B
B
Lackner
K
K
D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012074:Remission Induction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors
D002273:Carcinogens; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene