Cancer cells resist hyperthermia due to its obstructed activation of caspase 3.

ABSTRACT

AIM: It is well known that inducing hyperthermia is a type of cancer treatment but some research groups indicate that this treatment is not effective. This article finds and explains the mechanism of this treatment and its possible problems. BACKGROUND: Hyperthermia is commonly known as a state when the temperature of the body rises to a level that can threaten one's health. Hyperthermia is a type of cancer treatment in which body tissue is exposed to high temperatures (up to 45 °C). Research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. However, this mechanism is not known. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recently treated cancer cells with different temperatures ranging from 37 °C to 47 °C and further measured their caspase 3 secretion by ELISA, western blot and cell survival rate by microscope. RESULTS: We found that most cancer cells are able to resist hyperthermia more than normal cells most likely via non-activation of caspase3. We also found that hyperthermia-treated (≥41°) cancer cells extend a long pseudopod-like extension in comparison to the same cancer cells under normal conditions. CONCLUSION: Our data here indicates that cancer cells have resistance to higher temperatures compared to normal cells via non-activation of caspase 3. This is a significant issue that needs to be brought to attention as the medical community has always believed that a high temperature treatment can selectively kill cancer/tumor cells. Additionally, we believe that the pseudopod-like extensions of hyperthermia-treated cancer cells must be related to its resistance to hyperthermia.