THE CONTRIBUTION OF THERMO-MOXIBUSTION TO SURGICAL TREATMENT IN TRANSPLANTED MOUSE MAMMARY CARCINOMA

Abstract

BALB/C mice bearing progressive transplanted mammary carcinoma were treated by surgical removal of the tumor mass either with or without thermo-moxibustion, applied to the GV 14-point-equivalent. A surgical removal of the tumor, 14 days post-inoculation resulted in 61% of deaths compared with 90.0% of deaths in the sham operated control. By the addition of the thermo-moxibustion therapy, the mortality rate, in the surgically treated group was reduced to 37.5%. Surgical removal of the tumor mass at day 17 post-inoculation resulted in 70% death while surgery supported by thermo-moxibustion protected the animals to the range of 40% death. Surgical removal of the tumor mass followed by local heterologous immuno-therapy was very effective when applied 14 days post-inoculation (12.5% death only). However, the same procedures applied at day 17 post-inoculation were not effective (80% death). Surgery and moxibus-tion together were more effective than surgery alone. Surgery and immunotherapy were very effective when applied from day 14 post-inoculation. Thermo-moxibustion as the sole treatment was effective when applied either before or very close to the tumor cell inoculation (35% of death and 33% of death respectively, as compared to 61.7% death in the control). Thermo-moxibustion applied before and after tumor cell inoculation was more effective (15% death rate). Thermo-moxibustion either alone or in conjunction with surgery is a contribution to the protection of BALB/C mice against the early and the late development of mouse mammary carcinoma.