The aim of this study is to demonstrate a new
tumor thermal ablation
therapy, which might lead to a highly economic, safe and efficient heating of target tissues. The
alkali metals, usually seen as hazard mediums in daily life, were proposed for the first time as perfect self-heating seeds which can significantly raise the temperature of the
tumor tissues. Owing to the tremendous heat released at only the target site during reaction between the
metal and the intrinsically existing wet environment of the
biological body, the
tumor tissues can be efficiently ablated without causing thermal damage to the surrounding healthy tissues. Several conceptual experiments were performed to demonstrate the new thermal ablation principle. Mammary
adenocarcinoma cells in culture were found to be quickly destroyed due to the thermal and chemical effects induced by the
alkali metal. Further, a significant temperature increase by a magnitude of > 40 degrees C or even combustion has been found easily available at the target site; this temperature increase produces a sufficiently large coagulation and
necrosis area within selected areas either for in vitro or in vivo tests. The unique merit of the present thermal ablation
therapy is that its remaining reactant can be absorbed by the tissue itself without causing any damage. This study opens possibilities of using the
alkali metals to thermally ablate the target
tumor in future clinical applications.