Investigation of molecular mechanisms induced by a combination of high-intensity focused ultrasound and chemical anti-cancer agents

Tumor exposure to a combination of chemical treatment and physical forces causes chemical modifications and structural changes in cancer cells which inhibit their ability to survive and proliferate. High-Intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a unique non-invasive and non-ionizing physical force modality, has great potential as an adjuvant for chemical anti-cancer therapy. In vitro and in vivo studies conducted in our laboratory showed that HIFU synergistically enhanced tumor destruction by ethanol injection or chemotherapeutic drugs and reduce the potential for tumor metastasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms behind adjuvant anti-cancer effects of HIFU. To do this, we employed a combination of flow cytometry and western-blot analysis as well as in vitro and in vivo assays of tumor growth and cell adhesion. We showed HIFU drastically reduced the metastatic potential of chemically treated cancer cells via overproduction of heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70), death receptor...