Whole-body hyperthermia at moderate temperatures in the treatment of malignant disease

Moderate-temperature (40 to 410C) hyperthermia in combination with localized radiotherapy is undergoing a Phase I trial at Tufts-New England Medical Center. Hyperthermia is achieved by depositing 27 MHz RF energy primarily into the great vessels of the trunk and abdomen, using a computer-assisted system. Circulation of warm malignant disease. The treatment plan calls for 9 courses of hyperthermia over 3 weeks, i.e., 3 treatments/week, with local radiotherapy (according to department policy for the particular tumors) 5 times/week. Unsedated patients are brought to 40 +- 1/20C in 30 to 40 min, maintained at this temperature for 45 min and irradiated immediately thereafter. Of 9 patients, 6 completed 8 or more courses of hyperthermia without serious side-effects. Three patients did not complete the treatment because of complications of their disease. The rationale for 40 to 410C hyperthermia is presented and fundamental research in this area is described. Clinical laboratory investigations on patients subjected to whole-body hyperthermia are summarized