PROLIFERATION OF HUMAN TUMOR-CELLS AFTER HIGH-ENERGY PULSED ULTRASOUND (HEPUS) TREATMENT

The potential anti-proliferative effect of high-energy pulsed ultrasou nd (HEPUS) treatment on human pancreatic (PANC-1), hepatic (SK-HEP-1) and renal (CAKI-1) tumour cells was investigated in vitro. Sonication was carried out using an experimental piezoelectric burst-signal trans ducer, producing bipolar oscillations with a high negative pressure am plitude. In all three cell lines tested, HEPUS-application resulted in a significant reduction (P < 0.05) of vital cells. After 100 pulses 3 5%, 20% and 41% viable pancreatic, hepatic and renal tumour cells were detected by means of the Trypan Blue Dye exclusion test, whereas afte r 1000 pulses only 1.3%, 1% and 0.5% were found. A post-exposure growt h delay of surviving cells, compared to control cells and cells treate d with 100 pulses, was only seen in case of the CAKI-1 cell line expos ed to 1000 pulses.