Therapeutic effects of moxibustion on experimental tumor

This work investigated the therapeutic effects of the improved form of moxi bustion (MT) on experimental tumor. Sarcoma 180 cells (1 x 10(7)) were tran splanted into the subcutaneous tissue in the breast area of female ICR mice . Mice bearing a tumor were divided into one control and four experimental groups. The experimental groups were treated with MT for 1, 2, 3 and 4 time s (abbreviated as MT1, MT2, MT3, MT4, respectively). This study showed that the experimental group treated with MT3 displayed the optimal therapeutic response. The longest mean survival time (87.8 days) within 120 days after treatment of MT3 significantly differed from the control group (60.2 days). In addition, uptake of Rb-86-radioactive tracer significantly decreased in tumors treated with MT3. The improved form of moxibustion used in this stu dy is a reliable model of localized hyperthermia in tumor therapy.