Sonodynamic treatment of cancer cell lines -: A new method in tumor therapy?

Sonoluminescence is a emission of light out of fluids after excitation with ultrasound (US). The effect of porphyrin excited by laser on tumor cells is known as photodynamic therapy (PDT). But it is expensive and works only in small and superficial tumors. By using the luminometer Nightowl(R) from Berthold Photofrin(R) (Porfimer-sodium), Haematoporphyrin and Magnesium-Phtalocyanin and the tumor cell lines HeLa and HT29 a possible sonodynamic treatment should be evaluated. All 3 tested substances showed a clear luminescence response. The effect was dependent from Photofrin(R)-concentration and US-energy. Combination of US and Photofrin(R) lead to strong cell destroying effect. A tumor cell death in up to 95% could be induced. The effect is dependent from Photofrin(R) concentration and US-energy. The true mechanism remains still unclear.