[Experimental studies on combined chemotherapy with hyperthermia and ethanol for advanced esophageal cancer. II. Effects of combined treatments on tumor growth in tumor-bearing mice].

The combined effects of local hyperthermia, bleomycin and ethanol were investigated using Lewis lung carcinoma (3LL) in female C57BL/6 mice and FM3A tumors in female C3H/He mice. The combined treatments were performed on days 4 and 7 or on days 4, 7 and 10 after tumor implantation. Hyperthermia at 43 degrees C for 60 min or 15 mg/kg of bleomycin resulted in mild reductions of tumor growth, respectively, whereas hyperthermia at 41 degrees C for 60 min alone did not show antitumor effects. Synergistic effects were observed with 43 degrees C hyperthermia and bleomycin. Furthermore the effects were enhanced by the combined use of ethanol (10% ethanol, 0.05 ml, i.t.). The antitumor effects of combined treatments of 41 degrees C hyperthermia and bleomycin were not so remarkable as those of 43 degrees C hyperthermia and bleomycin. In the combination of 41 degrees C hyperthermia, bleomycin and ethanol, marked increase of antitumor effects was observed particularly in 3LL tumor. A possible application of these findings to clinical therapy for advanced esophageal cancer was discussed.