Localized hypothermia: impact on oxygenation, microregional perfusion, metabolic and bioenergetic status of subcutaneous rat tumours

The effect of localized hypothermia on microcirculatory and metabolic parameters in s.c. DS sarcomas on the hind foot dorsum of Sprague-Dawley rats was investigated. Tumours were cooled by superfusion of the tumour surface with cooled saline solution to 25 degrees C or 15 degrees C. Control tumours remained at 35 degrees C. These temperatures were maintained for 30 min. In tumour oxygenation measurements, hypothermia at 25 degrees C and 15 degrees C caused progressive decreases in the size of the fraction of pO2 measurements between 0 and 2.5 mmHg together with a reduction in pO2 variability. No significant changes in median or mean pO2 or in the fraction of pO2 measurements between 0 and 5 mmHg, and 0 and 10 mmHg were observed. Using laser Doppler flowmetry, red blood cell flux was found to decrease significantly upon 25 degrees C or 15 degrees C hypothermia treatment to 67% and 37% of starting values respectively, whereas no significant changes were seen in control tumours over the whole observation period. Viscosity was measured in blood and plasma samples over a range of temperatures and was found to increase with decreasing temperature. Assessment of tumour glucose levels showed an increased concentration of glucose following 15 degrees C hypothermia, an observation consistent with a 'slowing down' of glycolysis. No changes in lactate or adenylate phosphate levels were observed. As a way of improving tumour oxygenation, localized hypothermia may therefore be a useful means of radiosensitization.