Magnetohydrodynamic thermochemotherapy and MRI of mouse tumors

A dextran-ferrite magnetic fluid was successfully tested as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent. The same magnetic fluid was then combined with Melphalan, a chemotherapeutic drug, and used for magnetohydrodynamic thermochemotherapy of different tumors. The placement of the tumors in an AC magnetic field led to hyperthermia at 46 °C for 30 min. In combination with tumor slime aspiration, a 30% regression of ∼130 mm3 non-metastatic P388 tumors in BDF1 mice was reached, together with a life span increase of 290%. The same procedure associated with cyclophosphamide treatment of ∼500 mm3 metastases tumor increased the animal's life span by 180%.