Treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma in a xenograft nude mouse model using high-intensity focused ultrasound: A potential treatment modality for recurrent pelvic disease

Objective. The objective was to test the efficacy of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma in a Xenograft nude mouse model. Methods. A total of 65 athymic nude mice were inoculated subcutaneously with 5 to 7 X 10(6) ELT-5B cells, a uterine leiomyosarcoma. cell line derived from the Eker rat. Thirty animals showed tumor growth. The tumor volume was measured transcutaneously once a week. Animals were randomly assigned to three groups: HIFU treatment (n = 17), sham treatment (n = 7), and control (n = 6). A HIFU device, operating at a frequency of 2.0 MHz and an intensity of 2000 W/cm(2), was used for treatment. Results. Within 3 weeks of a single HIFU treatment, 100% reduction in tumor volume was observed in all animals, except one. A second HIFU treatment was applied to that animal, resulting in 100% reduction in tumor volume. The tumors in the sham-treated animals continued to grow at a similar rate to that of the control group to approximately 500% of the tumor volume at the time of treatment. All animals were monitored for a maximum of 3 months. No metastasis was observed in the HIFU-treated animals. Histological examination confirmed a complete tumor disappearance after HIFU treatment. Conclusion. We have shown that HIFU can effectively treat uterine leiomyosarcoma tumors inoculated in Xenograft nude mice, demonstrating HIFU's potential use for treatment of recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).