Possible influence of infrasound on glioma cell response to chemotherapy: a pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the response of cultured human tumor cells to infrasound in combination with conventional anticancer agents using an infrasound-emitting apparatus marketed as a therapeutic device.


METHODS
Two pilot experiments measured proliferation of cultured brain tumor cells exposed to three treatment conditions: infrasound emission alone, infrasound in combination with the chemotherapy 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and infrasound in combination with ionizing radiation. Results from each experimental condition were compared to those from appropriate control conditions.


METHODS
A standard colony-forming efficiency assay was used to assess tumor cell proliferation.


RESULTS
Tumor cell proliferation was not significantly altered by treatment with infrasound alone, nor did infrasound appear to influence cellular response to x-rays. There was a significant interaction between 5-FU and infrasound (P < 0.0001), however, evident in decreased colony formation.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research is warranted to assess potential synergism between infrasound and 5-FU against tumor cell proliferation, and to investigate the possible therapeutic use of infrasound.
Yount
Garret
G
California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. yount@cooper.cpmc.org
Taft
Ryan
R
West
Jeremy
J
Moore
Dan
D
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002455:Cell Division; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil