Local Microwave Hyperthermia in the Treatment of Carcinoma of the Prostate

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.

Quo Vadis Oncological Hyperthermia (2020)?

“…The combination of hyperthermia with hormone therapies is also a striking method. When applied to the prostate ( 369 ) all eight participants responded locally, and in vitro , quercetin and tamoxifen sensitize human melanoma cells to hyperthermia ( 370 ). The combination of hyperthermia with enzyme-therapy ( 371 ), PDT ( 372 ), gene therapy ( 373 ), immune- ( 374 ) and other supportive therapies ( 375 ) is also being investigated.…”

Local Hyperthermia in Oncology – To Choose or not to Choose?

“…Combination with hormone therapies is also a vivid method, applied for prostate [141]; and in melanoma treatment [112]. Enzyme-therapy [142], photodynamic therapy [143], gene therapy [144], immune- [145] and other supportive-therapies [146] are used in combination with hyperthermia.…”

I-wave Transcutaneous Thermotherapy for The Treatment of Benign Prostate Hyperthrophy and Pelvic Dysfunction In men

“…For many years, transurethral thermotherapy has been recognized as a safe and alternative method in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in men [1,2]. Despite the minimally invasive aspect of the application of microwaves, some surgeons even used this technique for external application in obstructive patients with bladder catheters in whom a transurethral procedure could not be performed [3,4]. The authors therefore report excellent and very promising results, which according to the studies would allow 65% of patients a significant improvement during 8 years after the application of external thermotherapy [4].…”