Interstitial Laser Hyperthermia and Chemo-Radiotherapy: A New Triple Modality for Treatment of Solid Ehrlich Carcinoma in Mice

Treatment of locally advanced superficial and/or deep tumours is still a problem especially when multiplicity of lesions is encountered. The present study was conducted to evaluate interstitial laser hyperthermia (ILH) and chemoradiotherapy as a new triple modality for treatment of subcutaneously implanted solid malignant tumour model. 105 mice were injected subcutaneously at the dorsum with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. All mice were randomly divided into seven equal groups. Tumours at group (I) received no treatment and it served as a control group. Tumours at group (II) were treated by chemotherapy, whereas, tumours at group (III) were treated by combined ILH and chemotherapy. Tumours at group (IV) were treated by radiotherapy, whereas, tumours at group (V) were treated by combined ILH and radiotherapy. Finally, tumours at group (VI) were treated by chemoradiotherapy, whereas, tumours at group (VII) were treated by a triple modality of ILH and chemo-radiotherapy. Three weeks later, the macroscopic changes of tumours volumes and tumour growth inhibition ratio (TGIR) proved the bene- ficial role of ILH in combination with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy at variable levels of statistical significance. These favorable macroscopic findings have been confirmed on the light microscopic evaluation. Accordingly, ILH could be of value as a new additive tool for more favorable outcomes, whenever chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are/is indicated as a palliative treatment for malignant tumours. However, monitoring and controlling of uniform and stable hyperthermia within the tumour including tumour periphery are mandatory, as well as a longer follow-up and introduction of multiple fiberoptic technique of ILH should be conducted for further studies prior to its proposed clinical application.