Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha on tumor blood flow and hyperthermic treatment.

The impact of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (rhTNF-alpha), given alone or in combination with local hyperthermia, on perfusion and growth of a moderately rhTNF-alpha-sensitive rat tumor (DS-carcinosarcoma) was investigated. DS-carcinosarcomas were implanted into the hind foot dorsum of Sprague-Dawley rats. Tumor blood flow (TBF) was measured with the krypton-85 clearance technique. Treatment with either tumor necrosis factor-alpha (0.1-1.0 mg/kg) or hyperthermia (43.3 and 44.3 degrees C, 40 min) can decrease the perfusion of malignant tumors. The TBF reduction was fully established 2 h after rhTNF-alpha injection and lasted for at least 4 h. The application of local hyperthe…