Hyperthermia therapy of cancer: need for deeper biological insights for improved therapeutic outcome

Hyperthermia is the most ancient cancer treatment modality used much before even the discoveries of conventional therapeutic modalities such as radiotherapy. Since then, as a cancer therapeutic modality, hyperthermia has seen several advancements, but an upsetting decline in its recognition in last few decades. Currently, majority of the laboratories working in the research field are engaged in developing combinatorial strategies for hyperthermia along with radiation/anticancer agents. For the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents, several nano-formulations have been developed. In recent years, magnetic nanoparticle-based "nanothermotherapy" is getting the attention of researchers. Unfortunately, despite several successful clinical studies, hyperthermia could not get its due acclaim in cancer therapeutics. In the last few decades, mechanistic insights achieved using cutting-edge technologies opened several therapeutic avenues of many diseases including cancer. However, for many reasons, hyperthermia scientists could not match the pace to tap the knowledge for deeper mechanistic insights. Key questions, such as epigenetic changes, role of immune cells/abscopal effects in hyperthermia, and thermo resistance, still needs to be addressed in depth. It is noteworthy to mention that a deeper mechanistic insight shall contribute immensely in hyperthermia-based cancer therapy not only through overcoming thermoresistance but also through assisting in developing novel thermosensitizers and thermotherapy protocols. (author)