Human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell-line 647 V has been used to evaluate the effects on tumor cells in vitro of a new technique: focused extracorporeal pyrotherapy (F.E.P.). The device is made of multi-sources of piezoelectric ceramics focused at 320 mm. The focal area is 10 mm. high on 1.5 mm. width, and shots of 0.25 to 0.50 seconds were delivered on 4 groups of cell pellets placed in a polyurethane tube at the focus. Trypan blue MTT cell growth curve and Colony forming tests were used. There was a significant reduction (Student's t test) of the cell variability rate on the Trypan Blue test, 5% (in the treated Group) against 95% (control Group). The growth curve was flattened whether 0.50 second shots were single or repeated. The colony formation test was also significantly altered: 5.7% (treated group) against 70% (control group).
Conclusion: focused extracorporeal pyrotherapy is able to alter or kill tumor cells in vitro.