Non-invasive localized deep microwave hyperthermia was applied as an alternative treatment to surgery in 29 patients with contraindications for prostatectomy. Patients were treated twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays, for 1 hour, without sedation on an outpatient basis. All patients tolerated treatment well without secondary effects. The results indicate that localized deep microwave hyperthermia applied by this method is safe and effective in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Following extensive experiments on animals, we have concluded a study on the treatment of 15 patients with prostatic carcinoma using localized deep microwave hyperthermia (LDMWH; 2.45 GHZ), either alone or in combination with radiotherapy or hormonal therapy. The results of this pilot trial were encouraging and are herewith presented. A total of 146 LDMWH treatments were given. All patients tolerated the treatments well, and there were no complications; the condition of the rectal mucosa was checked routinely by rectoscopy. A pronounced and rapid subjective and objective response was recorded in all cases, as noted by reduction in tumor size, regression of ureteral or urethral obstruction, disappearance of pelvic pain and improvement in well being. LDMWH was effective by itself and appeared to potentiate the effects of radiotherapy or hormonal therapy. Although LDMWH seems to be a promising and safe new method of treatment of prostatic cancer, either alone or in combination with other accepted forms of therapy, more controlled studies, which are at present underway, are needed to draw more definite conclusions.

No abstract

The clinical electromagnetic hyperthermia system has been in use at the Kaplan Hospital since 1980, for treating patients with hyperthermia combined with radio- or chemotherapy. For prostatic tumors, hyperthermia at 43°C is achieved in the prostatic mass using microwaves of 2.45 GHz, with simultaneous cooling of the rectal mucosa and the rectal wall. Thirty-two patients with carcinoma of the prostate have been treated: 4 with heat alone, 20 with hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy, and 8 with hyperthermia combined with hormonal therapy. Follow-up was carried out up to 34 months. Objective local tumor regression was achieved in 3 out of 4 patients treated by heat alone, but the patients relapsed after 6 months. All the 20 patients treated with combined hyperthermia and radiotherapy responded to treatment. Patients treated with combined hyperthermia and hormone therapy responded locally to treatment but died of their metastatic disease, or of unrelated diseases with a follow-up period up to 31 months. Hyperthermia did not increase morbidity beyond that expected for radiation therapy.