Microcalorimetric studies of the synergistic effects of copper-1,10-phenanthroline combined with hyperthermia on a liver hepatoma cell line Bel-7402

The effects of copper-1,10-phenanthroline combined with hyperthermia on human liver hepatoma cell line, Bel-7402 were studied. The effect was evaluated by the mean thermal power of the cells and total energy Q produced during the measurement period (35 h). It was found that the energy produced reduced after the treatment. Condensation of nuclear chromatin and apoptotic bodies can be observed from fluorescence microscope, which showed apoptosis occurs under the action of copper-1,10-phenanthroline combined with hyperthermia. The analysis by flow cytometry showed the proportion of apoptotic cells in the cell population increased. It indicates that the combination of hyperthermia and copper-1,10-phenanthroline has a synergetic effect on Bel-7402. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.