Enhancement of antitumor response to sarcoma 45 in rats by combination of whole-body hyperthermia and interleukin-2.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the summarized effect of hyperthermia and interleukin-2 (IL-2) administration on antitumor defense in tumor-bearing rats.

METHODS

Nonbred rats after subcutaneous inoculation of sarcoma 45 cells were treated with whole-body hyperthermia (WBH, +42.5 degrees C, 60 min) and interleukin-2 (IL-2, 10,000 U/kg of body weight). Parameters of tumor growth and survival of animals were monitored till day 33 after tumor cell inoculation.

RESULTS

Combined application of WBH and IL-2 at 5th day after tumor cell transplantation resulted in a delay of tumor growth and improvement of survival parameters in comparison with control group or animals that received separate treatment. Therapeutic efficacy of WBH combined with IL-2 was analogous to a single-dose chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined application of WBH and IL-2 is the useful approach for cancer immunotherapy.