[Inhibition of tumor cell growth by the action of high-energy sources]

In vitro comparison of the cytotoxic action of high-energy shockwave and megavoltage radiotherapy on tumoral cells. The inhibitory action these two therapeutic approaches have on cell viability is determined both singly and jointly, through life staining exclusion and nucleoside uptake tests. High energy shockwaves have a cytotoxic action significantly greater than low- and medium-energy levels of megavoltage radiation. The cytotoxic effect from megavoltage radiation is significantly greater than that resulting from high levels of high-energy shockwave as shown by the life staining exclusion tests. However, the nucleoside uptake test shows that cytotoxicity from either type of energy is no significantly different. When measuring the cumulative cytotoxic action of high energy shockwaves plus megavoltage radiation, the level of cytotoxicity is greater than the individual inhibitory actions on cell viability, but the degree of cytotoxicity induced cannot be comparable to that produced by higher energy levels from both sources separately.