Abstract
1) In order to elucidate whether or not chemotherapy enhances the anti-cancerous effect of hyperthermia. we analyzed the findings of experimental in vitro studies using head and neck carcinoma cells. 2) With regard to the temperature degree and the duration of heat treatment, the condition of heat treatment at 44° for 60 minutes showed the most anti-cancerous effect among all the conditions studied. 3) In terms of the combined treatment of heat and anti-cancerous drugs, e. g. CDDP, 5-FU, ADR, VCR, MMC, the anti-cancerous effect of combined treatment was higher than heat treatment alone. 4) With regard to the timing of the combined treatment, simultaneous treatment appeared to have a stronger anti-cancerous elect than each treatment administered separately.
These findings thus suggest that simultaneous chemotherapy might possibly help augment the clinical effects of hyperthermia for patients with head and neck carcinoma.
