Cytotoxic effects of high energy shock waves on cancer cells linked to metallic beads vehicled by monoclonal antibodies.

Previous studies have reported that high energy shock waves (HESW), generated by an electrohydraulic lithotriptor, may have some utility as a cancer treatment modality. Furthermore, it has been described that shock waves propagating in a fluid, show demolitive effects at the level of the interface of a solid fragment immersed in the fluid. In this study, we demonstrate that it is possible to enhance the antineoplastic effects of HESW if treated cells or tissues are linked to monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) conjugated with metallic beads (MB) (about 1 mu of diameter) and specific for a cancer cell surface determinant. A leukemic cell line was used to study the effects of HESW on cells linked to MB. A fresh human breast cancer specimen was used to perform the assay on tumor tissue. MB linked treated cell viability, growth curve, cloning efficiency and Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation were reduced in comparison to cells treated with HESW alone. Our data suggest that the presence of solid fragments vehicled by MoAbs on a cancer cell surface is able to synergize with the limited antineoplastic effects of HESW.