Combination of bacteriolytic therapy with magnetic field for Ehrlich tumour treatment

Abstract

Referable to the limited response of the current available cancer treatment modalities, new effective cancer fighting treatments are needed. This work investigates the efficiency of intratumoural injection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria combined with a local tumour exposure to extremely low frequency square pulsed magnetic field (ELF SPMF) in the mouse Ehrlich tumour. 64 Ehrlich ascites tumour-implanted female albino BALB/C mice were equally split up into 4 groups. Group 1 (GP1) was the positive control group. Group 2 (GP2) received a single intratumoural injection of P. aeruginosa bacteria. Group 3 (GP3) was exposed to ELF SPMF for tumour local exposure. Group 4 (GP4) was treated with P. aeruginosa intratumoural injection followed by local exposure of the tumour to ELF SPMF. Treatment monitoring was evaluated using ultrastructural examination, flow cytometry analysis in addition to the measurement of tumour dielectric properties. Tumour cell apoptosis was obvious in GP2 and GP4, but, with higher severity and percentages in GP2. Tumour biophysical properties revealed a significant increase in static conductivity σS of GP2, and decreases in dielectric increment Δε′ both GP2 and GP4 compared to the GP1. Unfortunately, GP2 mice showed severe signs of toxicity. We advocate the utilization of the combination of P. aeruginosa and SPMF to yield the most effective antitumour agent with less bacteria-related toxicity.