Treatment of Cancer by Radiotherapy and Nanoparticles Coupled With Methotrexate

Introduction: Cancer patients receive radiation therapy (RT) as part of their treatment as monotherapy or as part of a combination treatment. Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation such as photons and strong ions. Nanoparticles (NPs) are used for magnetic hyperthermia, which increases the efficacy of RT and generates heat to kill cancer cells by destroying their DNA.            Material and Methods: Nanoparticles were prepared using the co-precipitation method and characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometer. Fifty-six male mice were housed under similar environmental conditions. The animals were injected into the right flank with ۰.۲۵ mL of ۱۰۶ cells/mL Ehrlich tumor suspension. When tumors reached ۵-۱۰ mm in diameter, the mice were randomly divided into eight groups as follows: ۱st group: used as the control group injected with ۲۵ μL of phosphate buffer saline without treatment, ۲nd group: injected with Fe۳O۴-NPs, ۳rd group: injected with Fe۲O۳-NPs, ۴th group: injected with methotrexate (MTX), ۵thgroup: injected with MTX, Fe۳O۴, and Fe۲O۳-NPs, ۶th group: as the ۵th group with microwave hyperthermia, ۷th group: as the ۵th group then treated with high-energy photons, and ۸th group: as the ۵th group and exposed to electron beam therapy. Tumor volume and weight were measured after ۱۵ days. Tumor apoptosis was studied using histopathology, and the tumor's side effects on the biological systems were investigated. Results: The results indicated that magnetic hyperthermia with microwave and linear accelerator treatment coupled with drugs was suitable for cancer treatment. A significant decrease in tumor size, tumor necrosis, and fibrosis was observed. Conclusion: It was found that Fe۳O۴ and Fe۲O۳-NPs coupled with MTX and exposure to photon and electron beam therapy and microwave radiation are the best methods for cancer treatment.   

Keywords:

SEM , Microwave hyperthermia , Biological systems , Linear Accelerator , Histopathology