DNA double-strand breaks induced by cavitational mechanical effects of ultrasound in cancer cell lines.

ABSTRACT: Ultrasonic technologies pervade the medical field: as a long established imaging modality in clinical diagnostics; and, with the emergence of targeted high intensity focused ultrasound, as a means of thermally ablating tumours. In parallel, the potential of [non-thermal] intermediate intensity ultrasound as a minimally invasive therapy is also being rigorously assessed. Here, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells has been observed, although definitive identification of the underlying mechanism has thus far remained elusive. A likely candidate process has been suggested to involve sonochemical activity, where reactive oxygen species (ROS) mediate the generation of DNA single-strand breaks. Here however, we provide compelling new evidence that strongly supports a purely mechanical mechanism

SUBMITTER: Furusawa Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3250400 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature