Canaparo Roberto, Serpe Loredana, Zara Gian Paolo, Chiarle Roberto, Berta Laura, Frairia Roberto
Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Torino, Via Genova 3, Torino, Italy.
Technol Cancer Res Treat. 2008 Apr;7(2):117-24. doi: 10.1177/153303460800700204.
The combined effect of high energy shock waves (HESW), generated by a piezoelectric device, and paclitaxel on Mat B-III rat breast cancer cells in vitro and in an in vivo animal model is presented. A significant reduction of in vitro Mat B-III cell proliferation versus cells treated with paclitaxel alone was observed with the combined exposure to paclitaxel (0.1, 1, or 10 nM) and HESW (0.22 mJ/mm2, 1000 shots). Moreover earlier induction and enhanced apoptosis occurred in cells subjected to the combined treatment with paclitaxel and HESW at 1 and 10 nM versus paclitaxel alone (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). The percentage of apoptotic cells along with BAD mRNA expression, confirm a significant enhancement of apoptosis in tumor tissues subjected to the combined treatment with paclitaxel (2.5 mg/kg on days 7 and 11) and HESW (0.50 mJ/mm2, 500 shots on day 11) in comparison with paclitaxel alone. In conclusion, these data suggest that HESW enhance paclitaxel cytotoxicity in the Mat B-III syngeneic model of breast cancer.
