Pilot Study of Whole-Body Hyperthermia Combined with Chemotherapy in Patients with Metastasised Pretreated Progressive Breast, Ovarian, and Colorectal Carcinomas

Monitoring of whole-body hyperthermia with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)

“…Previous studies reported synergistic effects of combined hyperthermia and chemotherapy and/or irradiation [1]. Hyperthermia with an increase of tissue temperatures ranging from 40 to 44 C potentially induces tumor cell death by a variety of molecular, metabolic, cellular and tumor tissue changes [2]. So far, whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) is not approved for standard oncological treatment.…”

Systematic review about complementary medical hyperthermia in oncology

“…Encephalopathy (directly after WBH, lasted for 6 days, reversed spontaneously): n = 1 Headache Robins et al [ 126 ] 6 episodes (in n = 3, 18%) Nausea/vomiting Robins et al [ 126 ] Vomiting: n = 10 episodes (30%) Robins et al [ 127 ] Nausea (grade 1): n = 3 episodes (15%). Vomiting (grade 2): n = 1 episode (5%) Fatigue Robins et al [ 126 ] Moderate fatigue: n = 8 episodes ( n = 4) (24%) Bremer et al [ 99 ] Fatigue/asthenia: (grade 0): n = 13 (68%), (grade 1): n = 2 (11%), (grade 2): n = 4 (21%) Hepatic dysfunction Robins et al [ 127 ] Transient elevation in liver function tests (grade 1): n = 1 episode (5%) Haemodynamic Wust et al [ 137 ] Haemodynamic depression: (grade 0): 65%, (grade 1 and 2): 5%, (grade 3): 30% Pain Wust et al [ 137 ] Persisting pain (< 24 h): 35%, (> 24 h): 5% Cardiac Kerner et al [ 112 ] Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias: n = 2 (10%) Wust et al [ 137 ] Supraventricular tachycardia: (grade 3): 5% Related to EH: Skin lesions Sahinbas et al [ 130 ] Local redness of skin: 8%. Subcutaneous fibrosis of fatty tissue: 1%.…”

“…The side effects are in accordance with the prior reported adverse events. The incidence of the skin lesions was up to 100% [ 99 , 137 ] and the severity was up to grade 3 [ 99 , 135 , 137 ]. Herpes infections were a common side effect [ 99 , 126 , 127 , 137 ], and the incidence was also up to 100% [ 99 ].…”

“…The incidence of the skin lesions was up to 100% [ 99 , 137 ] and the severity was up to grade 3 [ 99 , 135 , 137 ]. Herpes infections were a common side effect [ 99 , 126 , 127 , 137 ], and the incidence was also up to 100% [ 99 ]. Neurological side effects included encephalopathy in overall 3 patients [ 112 , 137 ], which reversed spontaneously.…”

“…During treatment tachycardia [ 137 ] or tachyarrhythmia [ 112 ] occurred. Fatigue as an adverse event was noticed in two studies, and the incidence ranged from 24% [ 126 ] to 100% [ 99 ]. Further side effects included headache [ 126 ], haemodynamic depression [ 137 ], nausea and vomiting [ 126 , 127 ], transient elevation in liver function tests [ 127 ] and pain [ 137 ].…”