Ehrlich carcinoma transplanted into preirradiated calf muscle of mice was used as a model for tumor recurrence after unsuccessful radiotherapy. Due to the tumor bed effect (TBE), these grafts grew more slowly than control tumors implanted in the unirradiated tissue. When these tumors achieved the same volume (0.3-0.4 cm3), in 10-11 days for tumors implanted in irradiated tissue and 7-8 days for control tumors, they were treated with radiation, the tumor blood flow inhibitor hydralazine, and hyperthermia, alone or in different combinations. In the case of the trimodality treatment, single irradiation of tumors at a dose of 12.5 Gy was followed 2.5-3 h later by administration of hydralazine (2.5 mg/kg) and local hyperthermia (water bath, 43 degrees C for 30 min). The growth delay induced in the different tumor types by irradiation, hydralazine and hyperthermia, alone or in different combinations, was related to the blood flow measured in the tumors by the 133Xe clearance technique 24-48 h after treatment. It was shown that the reduction of blood flow after treatment with hyperthermia or hydralazine was approximately equal in both types of tumors. However, the combined inhibiting effect of these agents differed in the tumors: It was synergistic in control tumors and close to additive in tumors implanted in irradiated tissue. In terms of the specific tumor growth delay, the latter tumors were slightly more sensitive to hyperthermia, but were more resistant to radiation and thermoradiotherapy compared to control tumors. Hydralazine potentiated the tumoricidal effects of heat alone and heat combined with radiation. The enhancement was more substantial in control tumors compared to tumors implanted in irradiated tissue. A general correlation between the hydralazine-induced enhancement of the effects of heat on tumor blood flow and growth delay was observed. In tumors implanted in irradiated tissue, the inhibition of perfusion after treatment with hydralazine plus hyperthermia was smaller, and presumably a less marked treatment response to these agents (with or without radiation) was therefore achieved as a result in these tumors compared to the control tumors.