Hyperthermia is a complementary oncological treatment that consists of raising the temperature in the whole body (systemic hyperthermia) or in the specific area where the tumor is located (local hyperthermia). It is an effective, safe, non-invasive and efficient treatment for the treatment of cancer in multiple locations that has been used for more than 30 years in many European countries to enhance the effect of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy, i.e. as an adjuvant treatment, as well as to promote better clinical responses in patients. Local hyperthermia refers to the application of heat to the area where the tumor is located.
Deep local hyperthermia achieves the application of temperatures between 39.5 ºC and 43 ºC on the tumor, even if it is located in internal organs (pancreas, liver, lung, prostate, ovaries, digestive tract…) and not only if the tumor has a superficial location (breast, thyroid…).
How is hyperthermia performed?
The application of heat on the tumor generates various effects on the tumor that together achieve: improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or immunotherapy, reduce the size of the tumor, stimulate the patient’s own immunity and improve the patient’s clinical results in terms of survival and control of the disease.
The effects produced by hyperthermia on the tumor are:
- It sensitizes the tumor cells making them more susceptible to be destroyed by other treatments (chemo, radio or immunotherapy).
- Increases blood flow to the tumor improving the delivery of chemotherapy to the tumor.
- Produces the death of some of the tumor cells by apoptosis.
- Contributes to the expression of membrane proteins that make the tumor recognizable and attackable by the immune system.
- It generates a stimulation of specific immunity that acts on tumor sites at a distance from the treated focus (abscopal effect), therefore, it is a treatment that, although local, can be used for the treatment of metastases at the same time as the primary tumor is treated.
How effective is the treatment?
Deep local hyperthermia can be used for the treatment of practically any solid tumor, including brain tumors, and has the advantage of having no adverse effects and being very safe with a very low rate of possible complications.
To be effective, the General Surgery specialist must perform between 2 and 3 weekly sessions for 3-4 weeks depending on the conventional treatment scheme and repeat the cycles depending on the response obtained.
At Institut Khuab we are experts in oncology patients and in the use of thermal devices for cancer treatment. We have recently incorporated the most advanced German generation Deep Local Hyperthermia device (Celsius42), highly reliable and safe. Our team is expert in prescribing and performing this treatment whose objective is to achieve the maximum benefit for the patient.