[Effects of combination therapy with hyperthermia and immuno-targeting chemotherapy using anti-AFP antigen on...

Combination therapy with hyperthermia and immuno-targeting chemotherapy was studied using conjugate of anti-AFP-antibody and adriamycin on AFP producing hepatocellular carcinoma (HC-4) in nude mice. Experimental groups were designed as follows; A. Control B. Adriamycin alone C. Conjugate alone D. Hyperthermia alone E. Adriamycin and hyperthermia F. Conjugate and hyperthermia. Hyperthermia was performed immediately after administration of ADM-conjugate (8.0 mg/kg as ADM) or ADM alone (8.0 mg/kg). Heating in the water bath was continued for 30 minutes at 42 degrees C or 40 degrees C and drug was injected intraperitoneally. Hyperthermic therapy at 42 degrees C along with ADM-conjugate completely inhibited the tumor growth compared with others. The serum AFP was undetectable level. The effectiveness of this treatment was also histologically confirmed. Tumor concentration of ADM remained at a significantly higher level for a prolonged period comparing other groups. Growth of HC-4 was completely suppressed by the combination therapy of hyperthermia and immuno-targeting chemotherapy. One of the probable causes of this antitumor effect may be due to prolonged and high level of ADM concentration in the tumor.