Intracellular hyperthermia. A biophysical approach to cancer treatment via intracellular temperature and biophysical alterations

Abstract

This paper introduces a new multi-disciplinary "intracellular" biophysical treatment of cancer. The basic concept uses locally induced heat energy after tumor phagocytosis of submicron particles whose composition permits magnetic excitation. The key to this process is the utilization of the cancer cell membrane to contain the energy within the cancer cell. Any magnetic or electric dipole contained within or introduced into the cell, or that is capable of being produced by an external field, can be used. Submicron particles are colloidally suspended, injected intravenously and are phagocytized by cancer cells. Application of an external high frequency or pulsed electromagnetic field then raises the particles' temperature thus generating intracellular heat in precise increments. This results in selective thermal destruction of cancer cells with little effect on normal cells. Experimental evidence is presented showing tumor cell destruction in spontaneous mammary tumors in Sprague Dawley rats. In addition, we suggest that certain biophysical properties are altered within the cancer cells and could be used to enhance this effect. Specific radioisotopes or tumor specific antibodies bound to particles or chemotherapeutic microspheres increase cancer cell sensitivity and affinity for these particles. This "intracellular" treatment of cancer has a wide potential range of applications.