Superficial microwave-induced hyperthermia in the treatment of chest wall recurrences in breast cancer

Article Abstract:

Although modern treatments for breast cancer are quite effective, there is a percentage of patients in whom tumors will recur in the remaining breast tissue and the local area. Local chest wall recurrences have been reported in 3 to 22 percent of cases. The treatment of these recurrences is problematic, since surgery is often not practical and chemotherapy produces only low rates of response. Radiation is the treatment of choice, but since the area is likely to have been irradiated before, large doses of radiation may be inadvisable. One alternative is to elevate the temperature of the tissue to be irradiated. Hyperthermia provides several benefits. To a small degree, hyperthermia can be directly cytotoxic. Tumors tend to be more sensitive due to inadequate blood supply and low levels of oxygen and nutrients. More importantly, hyperthermia increases the sensitivity of tissue to radiation. This means that a lower dose of radiation may be applied when hyperthermia is used. To demonstrate the role of hyperthermia in the treatment of chest wall recurrences of breast cancer, hyperthermia was combined with radiotherapy in the treatment of 34 women. An additional eight patients were treated with either hyperthermia alone or hyperthermia with chemotherapy. Complete responses were obtained in 22 of the 34 patients with hyperthermia and radiotherapy; partial responses were obtained in an additional 5 women. These response rates are comparable to those achieved with higher doses of radiation. However, the patients in this study received a maximum of 3,500 to 4,000 cGy, in contrast to the 5,500 to 6,500 cGy believed to be necessary for treating breast cancer recurrences (a Gy, or Gary, is 1 joule of energy absorbed per kilogram of tissue). Although no control group was included in the study, the authors believe that, at these lower doses of radiation, an equivalent response rate could not have been achieved in the absence of hyperthermia. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Microwave heating

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Hyperthermia alone in the treatment of recurrences of malignant tumors: experience with 60 lesions

Article Abstract:

The recurrence of cancer sometimes poses a difficult problem for the clinician. The conventional treatment has already failed, and further treatment with radiation is often not advisable. In some cases, if the tumor is not operable and alternative chemical or hormonal therapies have failed, it may be possible to use hyperthermia alleviate the symptoms of cancer. The authors report their experience with 60 cancerous lesions for which conventional therapy had failed. Each lesion was then treated using a microwave or radiofrequency device to raise the temperature within the cancer to 42 degrees centigrade twice a week. A total of 6, 8, or 10 heating sessions were administered; 10 complete responses were observed. Although only 15 of the 60 lesions were adenocarcinomas, these cancers accounted for 6 of the 10 complete responses. In contrast, while 39 of the 60 cancers were squamous cell carcinomas, they accounted for only 3 of the 10 complete responses. Furthermore, long term local control, lasting over 54 months, was achieved for four patients with adenocarcinoma. The patients with other cancer types died within two years. These results indicate that hyperthermia may be a useful treatment for appropriately selected patients with adenocarcinoma. For other patients, hyperthermia may be useful for the alleviation of pain. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Cancer, Cancer treatment, Adenocarcinoma

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Rates of myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease and risk factors in patients treated with radiation therapy for early-stage breast cancer

Article Abstract:

Science & research, Research, Usage, Patient outcomes, Diagnosis, Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Heart diseases

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