Improved quality of life in patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma treated with local hyperthermia

We investigated the effectiveness of local hyperthermia in 23 patients with advanced prostatic carcinoma and whether the treatment improved the patients' quality of life (QOL). From 1987 to 1998, 23 patients with progressive prostatic carcinomas (stage T3-T4) were treated with radiofrequency-induced local hyperthermia using a Thermotron RF-8. Combination therapy was given with hormone therapy, radiation therapy and chemotherapy for 21 patients, while 2 patients received local hyperthermia alone. The clinical results obtained included 2 cases with complete response, 18 cases with partial response and 3 cases showing no change. An improvement in baseline QOL was achieved for 15 patients (65.2%), and pain caused by prostatic carcinoma was relieved in 13 patients (56.5%). These results indicate that local hyperthermia is effective in the treatment of advanced prostatic carcinoma giving an improvement in the baseline QOL. (author)