BLOOD PERFUSION IN A MURINE FIBROSARCOMA TUMOR-MODEL AFTER DIRECT-CURRENT ELECTROTHERAPY - A STUDY WITH RB-86 EXTRACTION TECHNIQUE

Electrotherapy with low-level direct current (DC) can induce antitumor effects in various tumor models. Applied in combination with certain anticancer drugs, it can significantly increase their effectiveness. I t has been suggested that the demonstrated effects of electrotherapy a rise from its modification of tumor blood flow. The effect of such tre atment on blood perfusion of solid subcutaneous Sa-1 fibrosarcoma tumo rs in A/J mice was investigated with a (86)rubidium extraction techniq ue. Following electrotherapy, the relative tissue perfusion of tumors was decreased by more than 50%. Three days after treatment, partial re perfusion of tumors occurred. The dynamics of the perfusion changes in duced by electrotherapy are in agreement with tumor growth dynamics fo llowing this procedure. The effect of electrotherapy on the blood supp ly of tumors may be the major mechanism of antitumor action in our mod el. Electrotherapy could be useful as an adjuvant local procedure to o ther treatment modalities that require a hypoxic environment for their effectiveness.