Combined electrochemical treatment and hyperthermia of mouse tumors

A new approach of using direct-current electrochemical treatment (ECT) in combination with radio frequency hyperthermia (RHT) to treat cancer in mice is presented. Sixty-four mice with sarcoma and Ehrlich tumors were divided into four groups: control (10 mice), ECT (18), RHT (12), and ECT+RHT (18). During treatments, pH and temperature measurements were made at different points in the tumors. Mouse weights and tumor volumes were recorded for up to 35 days. Range of pH before treatment was from 5.7 to.7.8 with a mean of 7.0. The mean pH was 6.7 in the center and 7.1 in the tumor periphery. After ECT the pH was lower than 3.1 around the anode and higher than 13.3 around the cathode. The tumor volumes in the combined ECT and RHT treatment dropped to zero 35 days after the treatment, whereas for the other two treatments and the control group the volumes increased. It can be concluded that using the combined electrochemical and hyperthermia treatment is more effective in treating mouse tumors. This method would be suitable for treating patients with late stage cancer and unable to endure surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy.