Introduction

Cisplatin and Docetaxel are effective chemotherapeutics in head and neck cancer (HNSCC) with potentially severe systemic side effects. The value of hyperthermia in the treatment of HNSCC has not yet been conclusively clarified due to varying results. Targeted drug delivery with nanoparticles combined with local hyperthermia could enhance the results. Therefore, we examined in vitro the impact of hyperthermia combined with different cancer drugs.

Material and Methods

Four HNSCC cell lines were exposed to temperatures of 42°C, 45°C or 47°C for 1 h or to hyperthermia and different doses of the chemotherapeutics Cisplatin, Docetaxel or Mitoxantron. The effect of this treatment was determined using live cell microscopy. Additionally, western blot analyses on the HSP60 and HSP70 proteins were done.

Results

Hyperthermia at 42°C did not show an effect on the cell lines. However, at 45°C, a significant decrease in cell growth was observed in all cell lines. At 47°C, the cell number decreased dramatically in all cell lines but A253 and FaDu recovered slowly after 48 hours. Combining 42°C with any cytostatic did not result in significant growth inhibition but sometimes led to elevated growth. At 45° C all drugs showed synergistic effects in all cell lines. All chemotherapeutics applied at 47°C were 100% effective. The levels of heat shock proteins increased with higher temperatures but no direct correlation to cell survival was identified.

Conclusion

In this study, combinations of chemotherapeutics with hyperthermia at 45°C and 47°C were highly effective in HNSCC cell lines. Based on these results, hyperthermia induced by magnetic nanoparticles in the target area deserves further experimental and clinical evaluation as a potentially effective treatment option for HNSCC.

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