Clinical Application of Hyperthermia

Abstract

A hyperthermia system, whose thermometry was continuously done at several points with a multisensor probe, was developed and clinical studies employing hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy were carried out. Of eighty seven cases treated from 1980 to 1985, sixty eight cases were qualified for evaluation. Complete responses were observed in 28% (19/68), partial responses in 51% (35/68) and no responses in 21% (14/68). The response rates for superficial (less than 6cm from the skin surface) and deep seated tumors (more than 6cm from the skin surface) were respectively 90% (44/49) and 53% (10/ 19). Acute severe complications occurred in four cases. They were burns and a pneumothorax induced during the insertion of a probe and considered to be overcome with the improvement of techniques.
No correlation could be found between treatment effects and observed temperatures. The investigation of recorded temperatures in tumors proved that thermometry at few points did not necessarily indicate the magnitude of hyperthermic, treatment, i.e. heat dose, due to irregular temperature distribution especially in neck and deep seated tumors, and indicated that the knowledge of temperature distribution was requisite to analyze clinical results from the viewpoint of heat dose.
I believe that hyperthermia with radiation can be rather safely applied in the treatment of malignant disease and yield remarkable results in the eradication of local cancers.