Ultrasound absorption and entropy production in biological tissue: A novel approach to anticancer therapy

Abstract

The entropy production of tumorous cells is higher than that of normal cells, and entropy flow is therefore directed from tumorous toward healthy cells. This results in information concerning the cancer propagating into the surrounding normal tissue. However, ultrasound absorption results in additional entropy production in tissues. The entropy mechanism possibly provides a basis for a novel approach to anticancer therapy through the use of ultrasound irradiation. Methods: Through the calculation of ultrasound-induced entropy production and comparison of the theoretical results with the experimental data on ultrasound absorption in biological tissues, we have demonstrated that ultrasound absorption will increase the entropy in normal tissue more efficiently than in tumorous tissue due to the more acidic nature of the latter. Consequently, the direction of entropy flow between these two kinds of cells may be reversed on exposure to ultrasound. Conclusion: The higher entropy accumulation of normal cells during ultrasound irradiation may possibly lead to a change in the original direction of entropy flow and avoid the propagation of information on the cancer into the normal tissues. We suggest that low-intensity, low-frequency ultrasound irradiation may be an efficient tool for the therapy of solid tumors.