Hyperthermia improves local tumour control in locally advanced breast cancer

Abstract

We report three patients with advanced breast cancer who received hyperthermia (43 degrees C over 1 h, weekly x 4) and radiotherapy as palliative treatment for chest-wall recurrence. The case reports demonstrate situations where hyperthermia may be beneficial. These include tumours where radiotherapy alone is not expected to achieve control, such as large fungating tumours, and in previously irradiated areas. In these patients, hyperthermia with radiation achieves better local control of the tumour and delays the need for systemic chemotherapy. This may improve the quality of palliation.

Local Hyperthermia, Radiation, and Chemotherapy in Locally Advanced Malignancies

“…Nev ertheless, the addition of local HT to RT and CT seems to be promising, as illustrated by the data on response rates in several phase-I/II clinical trials [7,19,20,[22][23][24][25][26][27], The side effects of local HT are low, and local acute discomfort is the main complaint, although enhancement of the acute radiation reactions can occur [29]. This clinical experi ence is clearly consistent with the results of this investiga tion.…”

“…Local HT is still a time-and manpower-consuming procedure with technical limitations [3,29,35]. Nev ertheless, the addition of local HT to RT and CT seems to be promising, as illustrated by the data on response rates in several phase-I/II clinical trials [7,19,20,[22][23][24][25][26][27], The side effects of local HT are low, and local acute discomfort is the main complaint, although enhancement of the acute radiation reactions can occur [29].…”

“…Vernier Therm oradiothcrapy/C hcm othcrapy Oncology 1996;53:214-220calipers, ultrasound and computed tomography were used to mea sure tumor thickness. Full details of the patient screening have been described previously [29].…”

Interdisciplinary Therapy for Patients with Superficial and Shallowly Seated Tumors.

“…Thirty-five tumors (26%) were post radiation recurrences. Primary sites of these patients were laryngeal (n = 14), tongue (13), hypopharyngeal (13) and lung cancers (13).…”

“…Main treatment sites were the lower limbs (n = 26), pelvic cavities (15) and chest lesions (13). The histology was MFH in 17, liposarcoma in 8, leiomyosarcoma in 7 and angiosarcoma in 6 patients.…”