Treatment Potential of Hyperthermia in Cancer: Exploring the Enhancing Role of Heat

Hyperthermia, a technique used to deliver heat to improve the outcomes of radiation and chemotherapy, is gaining attention in the cancer treatment field. This method, which typically feels like a heating pad and does not harm normal cells and tissues, has shown promising results in various types of cancer.

Researchers at Duke University found that adding hyperthermia to radiation treatment for breast cancer produced a 65% response rate, compared with a 42% rate for radiation alone in 2010. Mild temperature hyperthermia primes cancer cells to be more susceptible to radiation or chemotherapy, making them more vulnerable to treatment.

In the United States, Professor Ian Robins from the University of Wisconsin has been instrumental in developing and applying hyperthermia treatment for cancer. He has developed a device used for whole-body hyperthermia in cancer patients.

Hyperthermia heightens the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs, making them more potent against cancer cells. Surgeons may heat chemotherapy drugs and circulate them through the abdomen and pelvis to treat tumors located there. This technique, known as hyperthermic chemotherapy, has been used for various types of cancer, including breast, brain, sarcoma, prostate, bladder, cervical, recurrent rectal, bone metastases, and more.

Hyperthermia also enhances the body's immune response to cancer cells, helping the body fight the disease more effectively. It makes tumor cells more sensitive to radiation, improving the delivery of chemotherapy to the tumor. Hyperthermia and radiation have been found to improve pain control for bone metastases in a randomized clinical trial.

Recent studies have also focused on the potential of hyperthermia to treat cancer stem cells, which promote the growth of brain tumors. Researchers believe that more studies will reveal the benefits of hyperthermia for those with cancer. Dr. Yu, a leading figure in the field, shares this optimism.

One of the most notable applications of hyperthermia is in the treatment of ovarian cancer metastases. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is a technique used to deliver high doses of chemotherapy directly to the abdominal cavity, where ovarian cancer often spreads. In HIPEC, hyperthermia and chemotherapy are often administered together to boost the effects of the treatment.

As research continues, the potential applications and benefits of hyperthermia in cancer treatment are becoming increasingly clear. This non-invasive, heat-based treatment offers a promising new approach in the fight against cancer.

Treatment Potential of Hyperthermia in Cancer: Exploring the Enhancing Role of Heat