Mechanisms of the synergistic interaction between hyperthermia and radiation in cultured mammalian cells.

Hyperthermia and radiation interact synergistically in cultured mammalian cells. Data pertaining to the subject are reviewed and mechanisms to explain the phenomena are proposed. One may involve changes in chromosomal structure at high temperatures. These changes make the chromosome less amenable for repair of radiation damage. A second mechanism consists of endonucleolytic degradation of DNA in hyperthermic cells after radiation. This may be ascribed to imbalance between degradation and resynthesis processes operating during repair of DNA damage.