Effects of hyperthermia and hyperglycemia on the metastases formation and on survival of rat bearing W256 carcinosarcoma.

Hyperthermia (temperatures less than 42 degrees C) is widely used in the treatment of cancer. Current thrust in this field is directed towards using agents which can potentiate the effects of hyperthermia. Combined local hyperthermia (43 degrees C/2 hours) and hyperglycemia (6g glucose/kg body weight; mean blood glucose levels of 500 mg%) was investigated for treating a metastasizing form of a rat W256 carcinosarcoma. Glucose loading of the tumor-bearing rats rendered the foot tumors physically more easy to heat (due to inhibition of tumor blood flow), but combined hyperthermia and hyperglycemia lead to a decrease in survival rate (13% compared to 41% with heat alone), most animals died with widespread metastases in lymph nodes, lungs and kidneys. The data does not support the postulate that hyperglycemia leads to sensitization of tumor destruction by hyperthermia. We suggest that Corynebacterium parvum, a non-specific immunostimulant, should be thoroughly investigated as a potentiator of hyperthermia.