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Distinct Sensitivity of Normal and Malignant Cells to Ultrasound in Vitro

Flavio Lejbkowicz1 and Samuel Salzberg2

1Institute of Clinical Immunology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel; 2Department of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel

Abstract
The effect of ultrasonic irradiation on the viability of human normal (foreskin fibroblast and amniotic fluid epithelial) and tumor (breast carcinoma, melanoma, and lung carcinoma) cell lines was studied. Cells were subjected to ultrasonic irradiation with a frequency of 20 kHz and an intensity of 0.33 W/cm2 for variable periods of time. Several parameters were tested to determine the effects of ultrasonic irradiation on cell viability and cellular function. Normal cells were relatively resistant to ultrasonic irradiation, whereas malignant cells were much more sensitive. Maximum damage occurred 4 min after exposure of the malignant cells to irradiation. Cellular DNA and protein synthesis were significantly affected as a function of time of irradiation and cloning efficiency of malignant cells exposed to irradiation was greatly reduced. To generalize the consistency of the ultrasonic effect, studies on additional normal and malignant human cells of distinct origin are under way to test their sensitivity to ultrasonic irradiation. Thus, the applicability of ultrasonic irradiation as an antitumor agent may be important in the development of a new methodology in the treatment of cancer. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 6):1575-1578 (1997)

Key words: ultrasonic irradiation, cavitation, normal cells, malignant cells

This paper is based on a presentation at the International Conference on Radiation and Health held 3-7 November 1996 in Beer Sheva, Israel. Abstracts of these papers were previously published in Public Health Reviews 24(3-4):205-431 (1996). Manuscript received at EHP 11 March 1997; accepted 20 June 1997.

This work was partially supported by grants from the Harvest Cancer Research Fund and The Paula Better Estate.

Address correspondence to Dr. Flavio Lejbkowicz, Deptartment of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Technion, PO Box 9649, Haifa 31096, Israel. Telephone: 972-4-8295247. Fax: 972-4-8514285. E-mail: f_lejbkowicz@rambam.health.gov.il

Abbreviation used: FCS, fetal calf serum.

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Last Update: February 19, 1998