Thermal radiosensitization of human tumour cell lines with different sensitivities to 41.1 degrees C

While much work on radiosensitization by hyperthermia in the 43 degrees C a nd higher temperature range has been done, relatively little work has been done at temperatures in the 41-42 degrees C range. In this moderate hyperth ermia range there are dramatic differences in the resistance of mammalian c ells to hyperthermia. Therefore, thermal radiosensitization was measured in two human colon adenocarcinoma cell lines, one that expresses chronic ther motolerance and proliferates at 41.1 degrees C, NSY 42129 (NSY) cells and o ne that is slowly killed at 41.1 degrees C, HCT15 cells. Heat-resistant NSY cells were found to be more radioresistant than heat-sensitive HCT15 cells . Hyperthermia at 41.1 degrees C enhanced the radiation sensitivity in NSY cells, but no significant induction of heat-induced radiosensitization was observed in HCT15 cells. The radiation sensitivity induced by 41.1 degrees C in NSY cells appeared to be related to both intrinsic heat-induced radios ensitization (HIR) and cell-cycle redistribution at 41.1 degrees C. Inciden tally, cells incubated at 41.1 degrees C for between 8-16 h displayed an id entical radiosensitivity to those heated for 24 h. This result implies that modest hyperthermia for 2 h or more can have a radiosensitizing effect in heat-resistant cells.