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The Effect of Hyperthermia and Melphalan on Survival of Human Fibroblast Strains and Melanoma Cell Lines¹

Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston Road, Herston, Queensland, Australia, 4006

The survival of four human fibroblast strains and seven malignant melanoma cell lines was determined by the colony formation method following 4-hr treatment with various concentrations of melphalan, with or without simultaneous exposure to hyperthermia (42°). The two amelanotic melanoma lines (MM127 and MM253) were 10 times more sensitive to melphalan at 36° than were the four fibroblast strains, the five pigmented melanoma lines being of intermediate sensitivity. Sensitivity to melphalan was usually accompanied by sensitivity to heat, while combined treatment was not only synergistic in most lines but increased the differential between fibroblasts and melanoma cells. Survival studies carried out at 36°, 40°, 42°, and 44°, using human fetal lung fibroblasts and MM253 cells, showed that 42° gave the greatest differential effect and allowed reasonable survival of the normal cells. Time-survival comparison of the same two lines demonstrated that there was no advantage in prolonging hyperthermia unless melphalan was used. A more convenient method for determination of survival was developed based on thymidine uptake of colonies grown in Linbro wells.

¹ This work was supported by the Queensland State Government and assisted by a grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Canberra, Australia.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 2/13/76. Accepted 10/ 7/76.

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