title: High energy shock waves (HESW) enhance paclitaxel cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells.
abstract: High energy shock waves (HESW) produced by a piezoelectric generator were studied for their effect on human breast cancer cell (MCF-7) viability and sensitivity to paclitaxel. A dose-dependent impairment of cell viability was observed after HESW treatment (250-2000 shock waves, rate = 4/s, energy flux density = 0.25 mJ/mm2). Single treatment with shock waves produced no significant growth inhibition. Combined exposure to paclitaxel (ranging 0.1 nM to 20 microM) and shock waves (100, 500 and 1000 shots, respectively) resulted in a significant reduction of MCF-7 cell proliferation at day 3 after treatment in respect with cells treated with paclitaxel alone. Notably, a cell viability reduction of about 50% was obtained after combined treatment with HESW and 10 nM paclitaxel, in front of a reduction of only 40% using 10 microM paclitaxel alone. Moreover, an earlier induction as well as an enhancement of apoptotis was observed in cells subjected to combined treatment with shock waves and paclitaxel (200 nM; 20 microM). In conclusion, HESW can enhance paclitaxel cytotoxicity in MCF-7 cells, thus allowing the treatment with lower doses of drug.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Clinica, Torino University Medical School, Torino, Italy. roberto.frairia@unito.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Frairia
authors.forename: Maria G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Catalano
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fortunati
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fazzari
authors.forename: Mariangela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raineri
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berta
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel