The real deal: using cytochalasin B in sonodynamic therapy to preferentially damage leukemia cells

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a form of ultrasound therapy in which chemotherapeutic agents known as sonosensitizers are administered to increase the efficacy of ultrasound's preferential damage to neoplastic cells. Perhaps one of the most intriguing capabilities of ultrasound is its ability to preferentially lyse cells based on size. Cytochalasin B is a cytokinesis inhibitor that preferentially enlarges and multinucleates malignant cells, making them much more sensitive to ultrasonic irradiation.

The present study investigated the extent of preferential damage inflicted by cytochalasin B on U937 leukemia/human blood cell populations. Cell mixtures were treated with cytochalasin B and then sonicated under a relatively low intensity (3W/cm(2)).

Cytochalasin B preferentially damages U937 cells both before and after sonication. This agent also reduces rapid proliferation as the clonogenicity of U937 cells was considerably reduced following treatment.

Cytochalasin B may have profound therapeutic applications when combined with SDT.