The tumoricidal potential of extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

A potential role of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (E.S.W.L.), in the destruction of tumours has been proposed in recent literature. To examine further this potential, we have studied the effects of E.S.W.L. on the sarcoma-derived osteoblast-like cell line MG-63. An in-situ assay of cell viability was used to establish the cellular response to high energy shock wave therapy. A significant tumoricidal effect was confirmed when the cells were grown and tested in conventional monolayer phase. However cells grown in the three-dimensional matrix of alginate beads were significantly less vulnerable to extracorporeal shock wave therapy as earlier studies have suggested.