2001 Volume 17 Issue 1 Pages 23-31
Recent randomized clinical trials on hyperthermia have shown promising results for not only superficial tumors but also deep-seated tumors. Local irradiation has been a traditional approach in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Local tumor control is an important goal of the primary treatment for NSCLC, but patients with unresectable NSCLC show an extremely poor prognosis. From recent clinical trials for NSCLC, chemoradiation provided more benefit in non-squamous cell carcinoma, while aggressive local treatment would be most beneficial in squamous cell carcinoma. Considering an application of hyperthermia, bulky squamous cell type NSCLC is a clinical challenge for hyperthermia combined with standard irradiation as a local aggressive treatment. Although clinical trial in western countries has not been reported, few Japanese researchers have investigated clinical benefit for combination of hyperthermia and irradiation in patients with NSCLC. In our study for unresectable NSCLC with chest wall invasion, hyperthermia combined with standard irradiation potentially improved the local control and might provide more long-term survivors without increasing adverse effect. Randomized clinical trial should be conducted mainly by Japanese Society of Hyperthermic Oncology.
