1986 Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 136-142
The clinical results and problems of extracorporeally - induced total - body hyperthermia (TBHT) for recurrent or unresectable cancers were presented. In our clinic, a total of 108 hyperthermic treatments were performed in 39 patients who had had unsuccessful conventional systemic anticancer chemotherapy. Partial response was observed in 10 of 30 evaluable patients (33%). In analysing the anticancer effects of TBHT according to cancer site, a high efficacy was observed in patients with their main tumor in the lung, liver and lymphnodes, irrespective of whether tumorigenesis was primary or secondary. The anticancer effects were most enhanced when TBHT was performed in combination with cis - diamminedichoroplatinum (II) and 5 - fluorouracil. We also retrospectively evaluated 168 patients treated with TBHT in 7 Japanese hospitals, including our patients. The analysed data were almost same as our results above mentioned.
In order to augment the anticancer effects of TBHT, the choice of combined agent (s) and administration timing are important. A useful method for determining the thermosensitivity of individual cancer cells to agents selected for drug treatment is the human tumor stem cell assay. Further, the usefulness of angiotensin II - induced hypertensive chemotherapy during TBHT for augmenting selective drug delivery to cancer tissue is stressed.
