A Brief Overview of Hyperthermia in Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Despite the large economic and intellectual efforts, cancer is still not easily treatable disease by conventional therapies. This led ultimately to reconsider hyperthermia, like one of interesting treatment methods connected to immunity and tumor metabolism. Hyperthermia has also the ability to play an additional role when used together with the conventional methods of treatment: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Recent trials in Holland and Germany have demonstrated that hyperthermia can prolong life and decrease disease re-appraisal when used in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Some tumors seem more responsive than others. In this brief summary we will attempt to give a vision of hyperthermia from a physical stand point, but more importantly we will give clinical and biological aspects. The results obtained in these trials on certain types of cancers such as cervix cancer, recurrent breast cancer and head neck cancer, melanoma, sarcomas, liver, glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer support the use of this technique, although some clinical and technical problems persist and have not been completely resolved.

Localised hyperthermia in rodent models using an MRI-compatible high-intensity focused ultrasound system

“…The therapeutic effects of sustained mild hyperthermia have been documented for decades across a wide range of applications including radio-sensitisation, chemo-sensitisation, and targeted drug delivery [1,2]. Clinically, hyperthermia has been delivered using external and/or interstitial heating applicators employing a range of energy modalities [3,4].…”

Iron oxide/PLGA nanoparticles for magnetically controlled drug release

“…The use of hyperthermia treatment as an adjuvant for cancer therapies has been known since 3000 BC when some patients were treated by using hot sand baths and saunas [2]. Between the range of 40°C and 43°C, the majority of cancer cells tend to die by activation of several biochemical processes, firstly with enhanced production of heat shock protein (hsp), while healthy cell survive [3]. Hyperthermia may be induced locally, regionally or in the whole body for the treatment of tumor [4].…”

Nanoparticle-mediated radiofrequency capacitive hyperthermia: A phantom study with magnetic resonance thermometry

“…Although heat can have lethal effects on some types of cancer cells, hyperthermia has not been widely adopted by mainstream medicine as a cancer therapy [1]. The main reasons hyperthermia is not adopted for cancer therapy are inaccurate localisation of heat transfer to cancer tissues, which potentially causes death of surrounding normal tissues, and difficulty in monitoring tissue temperature during the hyperthermia procedure.…”

“…There are many types of hyperthermia that use different energy sources such as radiofrequency (RF) waves, microwaves, and ultrasound waves. RF capacitive hyperthermia uses two external electrodes positioned at opposite sides of the tumour region to send RF current to the tumour for Joule heating [1]. RF capacitive hyperthermia is based on the finding that some tumour tissues are more prone to death by Joule heating than normal background tissues because of slow blood supply to tumour tissues [6,7].…”