Review

Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

Hyperthermia in combined treatment of cancer

P Wust, B Hildebrandt, G Sreenivasa, B Rau, J Gellermann, H Riess, R Felix, and PM Schlag

Hyperthermia, the procedure of raising the temperature of

tumour-loaded tissue to 4043C, is applied as an
adjunctive therapy with various established cancer
treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The
potential to control power distributions in vivo has been
significantly improved lately by the development of planning
systems and other modelling tools. This increased
understanding has led to the design of multiantenna
applicators (including their transforming networks) and
implementation of systems for monitoring of E-fields (eg,
electro-optical sensors) and temperature (particularly, online magnetic resonance tomography). Several phase III
trials comparing radiotherapy alone or with hyperthermia
have shown a beneficial effect of hyperthermia (with
existing standard equipment) in terms of local control (eg,
recurrent breast cancer and malignant melanoma) and
survival (eg, head and neck lymph-node metastases,
glioblastoma, cervical carcinoma). Therefore, further
development of existing technology and elucidation of
molecular mechanisms are justified. In recent molecular and
biological investigations there have been novel applications
such as gene therapy or immunotherapy (vaccination) with
temperature acting as an enhancer, to trigger or to switch
mechanisms on and off. However, for every particular
temperature-dependent interaction exploited for clinical
purposes, sophisticated control of temperature, spatially as
well as temporally, in deep body regions will further improve
the potential.
Lancet Oncol 2002; 3: 48797

Hyperthermia is a therapeutic procedure used to raise the

temperature of a region of the body affected by cancer
(figure 1). It is administered together with other cancer
treatment modalities (multimodal oncological strategies).
The temperature increase required can be achieved by
various methods.
Studies on cell cultures in vitro and on experimentally
induced tumours in vivo in the early 1970s provided
convincing justification for the clinical application of
hyperthermia. The rationale is based on a direct cell-killing
effect at temperatures above 4142 C.1 However, the
thermal doseresponse relation varies among cell lines and
depends, furthermore, on microenvironmental factors such
as pH.2 After a heat shock, all cell types show increased
thermoresistance for 2448 h (thermotolerance). The
required temperatures derived from the preclinical data are
not achieved under clinical conditions. Therefore, other
mechanisms of heat may be relevant.
A synergistic interaction between heat and radiation
dose as well as various cytostatic treatments has been
validated in preclinical studies.3,4 This thermosensitisation is

THE LANCET Oncology Vol 3 August 2002

Figure 1. Non-invasive measurement of temperature distribution in the

hybrid hyperthermia applicator.

effective even below 41C. Here, as found in preclinical

experiments, the time between treatments and the sequence
of operation are important.5 For the combination of
radiotherapy and hyperthermia, the effect is greatest for
simultaneous application, but this is not feasible in clinical
practice. Several types of interaction of heat with
chemotherapeutic drugs have been found,6 such as supraadditive (alkylating agents, platinum compounds),
threshold behaviour (doxorubicin), and independent or
additive (fluorouracil, taxanes, vinca alkaloids). The
synergistic effect in vitro can be several powers of ten even at
moderate temperatures (eg, for cisplatin).
The molecular-biological mechanisms of these effects
are still under investigation. Various targets in the cell
affected by rises in temperature have been found, such as
membranes, the cytoskeleton, synthesis of macromolecules,
and DNA repair.7,8 The expression of several genes can be
upregulated or downregulated by heat, for example, the
family of heat-shock proteins (HSP).9 Expression of other
genes modulated by heat is yet to be discovered (eg, the
PW, GS, JG, and RF are at the Department of Radiation Oncology
and BH and HR are at the Department of Medical Oncology,
Charit Medical School, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin,
Germany. BR and PMS are at the Department of Surgery, Charit
Medical School, Campus Berlin Buch, Berlin, Germany.
Correspondence: Professor Peter Wust, Department of Radiation
Oncology, Charit Campus Virchow Klinikum, Augustenburger
Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany. Tel +49 30 450 557202. Fax +49 30
450 557979. Email: peter.wust@charite.de

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Review

Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

multiple drug resistance gene, MDR).10 The HSP/peptide

complex may be involved in antigen presentation together
with MHC class I molecules, potentially influencing the
immunogeneity of certain tumour cells.11 Several other
temperature-dependent interactions have been found,
regulating molecular functions such as apoptosis, the cell
cycle, and DNA repair.12 These more specific temperaturedependent pathways in cells suggest new applications of
hyperthermia such as heat-controlled gene therapy or heatenhanced immunotherapy or vaccination.
Early clinical experience was gained with superficial
easy-to-heat lesions, which were compared in the same
patient (matched-pair lesions or same-patient comparison);
one of the lesions was treated by a standard regimen, and a
second similar lesion treated by the standard regimen plus
hyperthermia. These early clinical results were very
convincing, but there were difficulties with the effectiveness
of heating of any unselected group of tumour diseases.13
Some uncritical transfer of the first preclinical data to the
clinical setting resulted in the 43C dogmathe idea that a
minimum temperature of 43C had to be achieved in the
target volume. This conviction has now been abandoned,
because several clinical studies have clearly shown greater
effectiveness with hyperthermia at lower temperatures in the
clinical situation.14
Physiological effects may bring about this effect at lower
temperatures. Our clinical data and experiments in vivo
show increased perfusion in the tumour region, leading to a
higher oxygen concentration (pO2).15,16 Higher perfusion can
increase drug delivery and reoxygenation (increasing the
efficacy of radiotherapy). Most human tumours have
increased blood flow under hyperthermia and hours later.
Only a few cases of human tumours have shown vascular
breakdown.17
Recent studies have also shown heat-dependent
immunological reactions of human leucocytes.18 Specific
effects on natural killer cells and cytokine depletion have
been found.19,20 Better understanding of this type of
temperature-dependent mechanism on a cellular and
physiological level will clearly open new clinical
applications.

395C and 405C), mainly because of physical and

physiological characteristics such as electrical tissue
boundaries, local perfusion variations, and perfusion
regulations. Only about 50% of deeply located tumours
reach at least 42C at one particular measurement point.
Clinical studies have shown that uncritical adoption of
preclinical results into clinical guidelines for tumour
temperatures is not justified. Nevertheless, many phase II
clinical studies have shown associations between tumour
response and characteristics of temperature distribution
(minimum temperature or minimum thermal dose in the
tumour area).
Even though the tumour temperatures that have to be
reached for clinical efficacy are still unclear, we should
achieve temperature distributions as high and homogeneous
as possible. Technological potential for in vivo monitoring
and control of temperature distribution has not yet been
intensively scrutinised, at least for the regional hyperthermia
approach.
Local hyperthermia

Superficial tumours can be heated by means of antennas or

applicators emitting mostly microwaves or radiowaves
placed on their surfaces with a contacting medium. Several
types of applicators have been used clinically, such as
waveguide applicators, horn, spiral, current sheet, and
compact applicators. The main components of such a
hyperthermia system are shown in figure 2. The
electromagnetic coupling of the applicator to the tissue is
ensured by a water bolus (preceding water path).
Intratumoral temperature can be controlled by the output of
the power generator or by positioning the applicator. The
resulting SAR distribution is subject to strong physical
curtailment resulting in a therapeutic depth of only a few
Terminal

Computer

Methods to increase temperatures

To reach temperatures clearly above the systemic
temperature of 375C in a defined target volume is a
technical challenge and still under development. The
temperature increase is induced by applying a power-density
specific absorption rate (SAR; measured in W/kg). Human
basal metabolic rate (basal metabolism) is above 1 W/kg.
Perfusion counteracts the temperature rise. Perfusion rates
in human tumours are around 515 mL per 100 g per min,
but they vary widely. To reach therapeutic temperatures of
about 42C at least in some parts of such tumours
necessitates power density of about 2040 W/kg at the target
region.21
At present, the optimum temperature distribution for
clinical purposes is unknown. Temperature distributions
achieved to date have limited absolute values and
homogeneity (minimum temperatures typically lie between

488

Power level

Terminal
Temperature
measurement

Antenna (applicator)
Bolus
Thermistor in a
closed-end catheter
Figure 2. Scheme of a system for local hyperthermia. Applicator position
and power output can be varied until a clinically satisfactory adjustment is
achieved.

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Review

Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

(effective) length results in further limitations in the

power-density field. Even if the number of applicators is
high, the generated field cannot be adequately controlled to
generate a homogeneous temperature distribution at all
parts of the target area. The development of segmented RF
electrodes leads to an interstitial hyperthermia system
capable of three-dimensional control, ensuring improved
temperature control in the target volume.23 These systems
are undergoing clinical evaluation.
Endocavitary antennas are inserted in natural openings
of hollow organs such as the urethra (prostate), rectum
(rectal cancer, prostate), vagina, cervix, and oesophagus.
They are based on the same physical principles as interstitial
antennas, with dimensions in the range of centimetres (and,
therefore, larger clinical penetration depth). Counter
electrodes on the body surface can be used to generate power
deposition patterns.
Regional hyperthermia and part-body hyperthermia
Figure 3. Applicator types for local hyperthermia, such as (a) waveguide
applicator; (b) spiral applicator; and (c) current sheet applicator.

centimetres and is even further limited in regions with an

irregular surface, such as the head and neck area, the
supraclavicular region, or the axilla. Quality-assurance
guidelines have been developed for local hyperthermia.22
Commercially available electromagnetic applicators
(figure 3) have a typical emitting diameter of 15 cm at a
frequency of 150430 MHz with therapeutic depths not
more than 3 cm. Dual or multiapplicator operation would
be better, but these techniques have been developed in only
a few specialised centres and are not commercially available.
Ultrasound applicators offer better physical features with a
wandering focus, but cause discomfort, and are thus at
present of less practical importance.

Deep-seated tumourseg, of the pelvis or abdomencan

be heated by arrays of antennas. The Sigma-60 applicator is a
widely spread applicator (figure 4), which consists of four
dipole antenna pairs arranged in a ring around the patient.
Planning systems describe correctly to some extent the
power-density and temperature distribution depending on
various treatment variables.24,25 Even though each antenna
pair can be controlled in phase and amplitude, there are
restrictions in terms of the generated SAR distribution.

Interstitial and endocavitary hyperthermia

For this procedure, antennas or applicators are implanted

within the tumour, and in most cases a heat treatment is
administered in combination with brachytherapy by the
afterloading method in close connection to the area to be
heated. This technique is suitable for tumours that are less
than 5 cm in diameter, but mainly in any location feasible
for implantation (eg, head and neck, prostate). Various
antenna types are available, including microwave antennas,
radiofrequency electrodes, ultrasound transducers, heat
sources (ferromagnetic seeds, hot water tubes), and laser
fibres. For physical reasons, the power-density gradient of
the antenna surroundings is so high that variability in
temperature is generally greater than with local
hyperthermia. To ensure therapeutic temperatures at all
points of the target volume requires a distance between
adjacent applicators of not more than 1015 cm. But such
close positioning is very invasive. Furthermore, positioning
and orientation of microwave antennas can be critical
because of their sensitivity to interference. Applicators
functioning according to the hot-source principle require
an even smaller distance between them. The restricted axial

THE LANCET Oncology Vol 3 August 2002

Figure 4. (a) Sigma-60 applicator (four dipole pairs) with treatment couch
of the BSD-2000 system for regional hyperthermia. Dipole antennas are
schematically shown. (b) A novel multiantenna applicator Sigma-Eye (12
dipole pairs) mounted on the same treatment unit as shown in (a). The
elliptical form is more comfortable for the patient.

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Review

Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

demanding. This problem has been solved at the Duke

University Medical Center, North Carolina, USA, with a
smaller applicator for the thigh region.27 A commercially
available hybrid system, a 15 T tunnel magnet (MRtomograph Symphony, Siemens) is being installed at the
Charit Medical Center in Berlin (figure 5). At the
Grosshadern Medical Center in Munich, an open low-field
MRT (02 T) hybrid system is already in operation in
combination with a Sigma-Eye applicator.28 Whether
reasonable temperature information can be achieved with a
low magnetic field is unclear, however. Problems with MR
thermography have been solved with respect to phantoms.29
But conditions in vivo cause many complexities through
movement, temperature-dependent tissue changes, and
perfusion, which necessitate subtle corrections.30
The successful implementation of a hybrid system would
help to formulate clear definitions of significant and
prognostically relevant thermometry characteristics (eg,
minimum temperature in and around the tumour) and
might lead to a better standardisation of heat treatments.
The new generation of hybrid systems has enabled a new
hyperthermia technique, part-body hyperthermia. With
sufficient monitoring possibilities, applicators enabling
better control of the heating pattern in the longitudinal
direction can cover larger anatomical regions during a heat
treatment by increasing total powereg, complete
peritoneum (for peritoneal carcinosis) or upper abdomen
(for liver metastases).
Whole-body hyperthermia
Figure 5. (a) Hybrid system (installed at the Charit Medical Center, Berlin,
Germany) with positioning system for the Sigma-Eye applicator (BSD
Medical, Salt Lake City, USA) located in the back (with patient) of a
tunnel-like MRT (Symphony 15 T, Siemens, Erlangen, Germany). The
elliptical applicator can be moved on guide rails into the gantry after the
patient has been positioned on the sling. (b) A front view of the MRT, also
used for conventional diagnostic imaging.

Model calculations show significant improvements in

control of power distribution by increasing the antenna
number with the assumption of optimum adjustment of
phases and amplitudes.25 The RF frequency (100150 MHz)
may be an additional variable. The three-dimensional
anatomy decisively influences the power distribution. The
transforming network might lead to further limitations in
antenna control, since the antenna characteristics at the feed
points are disturbed by coupling and imperfect symmetry.26
Concepts to improve control are being investigated.
These theoretical studies led to hopes that use of threedimensional multiantenna applicators with, for example, 12
channels would allow a temperature gain of more than 1C
compared with previous applicators. The Sigma-Eye
applicator (figure 4) is one of the next generation of
commercially available applicators, consisting of three
shorter rings, each with four flat dipole-antenna pairs.
Treatment monitoring might be provided by magnetic
resonance tomography (MRT) which can characterise
temperature as well as perfusion. Integration of a
hyperthermia system in a tunnel-like MRT is technically

490

In carcinomas with distant metastases, a steady state of

maximum temperatures of 42C can be maintained for 1 h
with acceptable adverse effects. Such a procedure can be
achieved only with deep analgesia and sedation or general
anaesthesia. Whether intubation is required for safe
administration is still a matter of discussion. A completely
different range of toxic effects arises from the systemic stress
in interaction with the various anaesthesia methods applied
compared with locoregional methods.31,32
The basal metabolic rate of a patient weighing about
70 kg is 85 W at 37C and double that at 42C; this in itself is
enough to raise the body temperature within 180 min from
375C to 420C, if thermal isolation is perfect. Since the
early 1980s there have been many clinical efforts to shorten
the preheating time. Various methods (pyrogens,
extracorporeal heating, contact heating) were abandoned
because of unacceptable toxic effects and limited
effectiveness. Today, only radiant systems (figures 6 and 7)
are in clinical use, with typical preheating times of 6090
min (from 375C upwards).
The Aquatherm system (figure 6) is an isolated
moisture-saturated chamber equipped with waterstreamed tubes (5060C) on the inner sides, in which the
patient is positioned.33 Long-wavelength infrared waves are
emitted. A substantial increase in the skin blood circulation
is induced (subcutaneous venous plexus), and energy
absorbed superficially is transported into the systemic
circulation. Since energy release through perspiration is
blocked, the heating time is quite short (6090 min). The

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Review

Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

Iratherm-2000 system (figure 7) uses special

water-filtered infrared radiators, resulting in
an infrared spectrum with a maximum near
to visible light. The penetration depth in this
frequency range is slightly higher (about 2
mm), but every system for whole-body
hyperthermia
can
cause
superficial
overheating, resulting in thermal lesions.34
Thus, careful continuous control of skin
temperatures combined with controlled
power input is required to ensure that the
procedure is safe.35 With experience,
systemic temperatures of up to 415420C
can be achieved with acceptable side-effects
with both systems. Systemic toxicity can
include cardiac disorders, changes in the
coagulation system (thrombocytopenia and
disseminated intravascular coagulation), and
permeability of the capillary endothelia.32 Because
there is a large fall in peripheral resistance and
consequent hypovolaemia, fluid substitution is
necessary. Overcompensation can lead to pulmonary
oedema in connection with the capillary leak syndrome.
Whole-body hyperthermia is clinically feasible, with
systemic temperatures of 418420C achieved. However,
the efforts needed (including intensive medical care) are
much greater than for locoregional methods. Therefore,
whole-body hyperthermia is still in phase II evaluation.
Figure 6. Schematic drawing of the Aquatherm system for whole-body
hyperthermia. The patient is positioned in a moisture-saturated cabin with
hot water tubes (60C) inside. After a systemic temperature of 418C has
been achieved, the patient is thermally isolated with blankets.

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion

The isolated hyperthermic perfusion of limbs is based on

bypassing a large supplying artery and a limb-draining
veinfor example, the iliac artery and vein for the lower
extremities. Since this surgical procedure is long established,
hyperthermic perfusion with extracorporeal heat exchange is
technically straightforward. Compared with whole-body
hyperthermia, systemic side-effects are less, leading to early
clinical application.36,37
Variables influencing the therapeutic ratio are, besides
the temperature, the cytostatic drug concentration (higher
concentrations are applied than in systemic therapy), the
flow rate (3040 mL/min), and the composition of the
perfusing fluid (packed-cell volume, pO2, pH).

Clinical trials on hyperthermia

Figure 7. Schematic drawing of the Iratherm system for whole-body

hyperthermia. Water-filtered infrared radiators emit their energy from top
and bottom. Thermal isolation is ensured by various transport foils. After a
systemic temperature of 418420C has been achieved, power is
reduced and a steady state is adjusted.

THE LANCET Oncology Vol 3 August 2002

By searches of the Medline database, we identified 18

comparative, prospective phase III trials on different
hyperthermia modalities up to March 2001 (table 1). In ten
of these trials, external radiotherapy alone was compared
with radiotherapy plus hyperthermia14,3844 or interstitial
radiotherapy alone was compared with interstitial
radiotherapy plus interstitial hyperthermia.45,46 Only two
studies
on
locoregional
hyperthermia
included
chemotherapy.47,48 In three trials on hyperthermic perfusion,
surgery alone was compared with surgery plus hyperthermic
intraperitoneal perfusion49 or hyperthermic isolated limb
perfusion.4852 In three further trials, different schedules of
local hyperthermia added to radiotherapy were
compared.5355

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Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

Doseresponse relations

In three trials of superficial tumours (lymph-node

metastases of head and neck tumours, breast cancer,
cutaneous metastases or chest-wall recurrences, and

melanomas), the number of applications of local

hyperthermia was varied and related to local tumour
control. No significant relation between the number of heat
applications and outcome was observed if thermal variables

Table 1. Randomised trials on hyperthermia

Ref

Tumour site

Control

Experimental

Number of
patients

Primary
endpoint

Hyperthermia
better (p<005)

Survival
benefit

Local hyperthermia
38

Head and neck

(primary)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and local

hyperthermia

65

Response at
8 weeks

Yes

No

39

Melanoma (metastatic
or recurrent)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and
local hyperthermia

68
(128 lesions)

Complete response
(at 3 months)

Yes

No

40

Superficial (head
and neck, breast,
miscellaneous)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and
local hyperthermia

245

Initial response

possibly

No

41

Head and neck

(N3 primary)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and local

hyperthermia (26 times)

44

Response
(3 months)

Yes

Yes

42

Breast (advanced
primary or recurrent)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and local

hyperthermia

307
(317 lesions)

Initial response

Yes

No

53

Superficial (head and

neck, breast,
melanoma, sarcoma)

Radiotherapy
and 1x local
hyperthermia

Radiotherapy and 2x
local hyperthermia

173
(240 lesions)

Best response

No

No

54

Superficial (head and

neck, breast,
melanoma, sarcoma)

Radiotherapy and Radiotherapy and 2x

1x local
local hyperthermia
hyperthermia

41
(44 lesions)

Initial response

No

No

55

Superficial (head
and neck, breast,
melanoma, sarcoma)

Radiotherapy and Radiotherapy and 6x

2x local
local hyperthermia
hyperthermia

70
(179 lesions)

Initial response

No

No

Interstitial and endocavitary hyperthermia

45

Superficial (head
and neck, breast,
melanoma, others)

Interstitial
radiotherapy

Interstitial radiotherapy
and interstitial
hyperthermia

184

Best response

No

No

46

Glioblastoma

Radiotherapy
and interstitial
radiotherapy

Radiotherapy, interstitial
radiotherapy, and
interstitial hyperthermia

79

2-year survival

Yes

Yes

43

Rectum (T4,
locally advanced)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and
endocavitary hyperthermia

115

Initial response

Yes

Yes

47

Oesophagus
(stages IIV,
neoadjuvant)

Radiotherapy and
chemotherapy

Radiotherapy,
chemotherapy, and
endocavitary hyperthermia

66

Histological
complete response

Yes

Yes

48

Oesophagus
(stage IIV,
neoadjuvant)

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and
endocavitary hyperthermia

40

Initial response

Yes

No

Perfusion hyperthermia
49

Stomach
Surgery
(T3, locally advanced)

Surgery and hyperthermic

intraperitoneal perfusion

82

5-year survival

Yes

Yes

50

Melanoma
(stages IIII)

Surgery

Surgery and hyperthermic

isolated limb perfusion

107

Disease-free survival

Yes

Yes

52

Melanoma
(stages IIII)

Surgery

Surgery and hyperthermic

isolated limb perfusion

832

Disease-free survival

No

No

Regional hyperthermia
44

Cervix uteri
(primary, stage III)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and regional

hyperthermia

40

Initial complete
response

Yes

No

14

Primary or recurrent
pelvic (cervix, rectum,
bladder)

Radiotherapy

Radiotherapy and
regional hyperthermia

361

Complete response
rate, survival

Yes

Yes

Ongoing

Rectum (uT3/4)

Radiotherapy
and
chemotherapy

Radiotherapy,
chemotherapy, and
regional hyperthermia

>150

Disease-free survival

Ongoing

Soft-tissue
sarcoma (high risk)

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy and
regional hyperthermia

>150

Disease-free survival

492

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Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

were disregarded.5355 However, there was a clear-cut relation

between the number of applications that were adequate in
terms of derived thermal dose variables and response. This
doseresponse relation has been verified for both
hyperthermic radiotherapy and hyperthermic chemotherapy, with a temperature range achieved of 395410C
for Tmin (or T90). This finding has been confirmed by several
investigations of thermal data in comparative and noncomparative trials and was even established also for
endocavitary minimally invasive temperature measurements in tumour contact.15,5658 A clear dependency of
disease-free survival on response was found in several
studies.59,60 Therefore, a positive influence of higher thermal
doses on survival is expected and has been validated in our
data for primary rectal cancer.61 These dose-response
relations for local and regional hyperthermia indicate
the clinical efficacy of these hyperthermia approaches,
in addition to the stronger verification by phase III
studies.
Local and interstitial hyperthermia of superficial and
intracerebral tumours

Six comparative trials on hyperthermia have been done in

patients with recurrent or previously irradiated superficial
tumours or metastases,3842,45 and one was done in patients
with glioblastomas.46
In five of these seven trials, there was an observed
benefit in the hyperthermia group in terms of local
effectiveness or control; only one study on local
hyperthermia and one on interstitial hyperthermia were
negative. In these two trials, both carried out by the
Radiation Therapy Oncology Group, lack of efficacy was
ascribed to poor heating quality. In one of these trials,40
higher response rates were found in a subgroup of tumours
that are easier to heat (3 cm or less in diameter).
The positive result of another interstitial trial is probably
due to a rigorous quality control (stereotactically guided
catheter implantation) in a homogeneous group of
patients.46 The promising results in patients with
glioblastomas clearly justify further studies with interstitial
hyperthermia. Nevertheless, better interstitial techniques
are needed.
Thus, improvements in at least response or local
control, and in some trials even in survival, can be
taken in our opinion as proof of principle for local
hyperthermia in conjunction with radiotherapy.
Despite criticism about the design of some of these
trials (low numbers of patients, statistical design,
inadequate control groups), at least three well-designed
studies were clearly positive for local tumour control,
and two for overall survival.39,42,46 On the basis of these data,
local microwave hyperthermia in conjunction with
definitive radiotherapy can be recommended as an
effective palliative treatment option to be offered in nonclinical trials to patients with symptomatic recurrence of
previously irradiated superficial tumours or primary locally
advanced tumours not suitable for surgical resection.
Additional chemotherapy might be beneficial for some
indications.

THE LANCET Oncology Vol 3 August 2002

Endocavitary hyperthermia in patients with rectal or

oesophageal cancer

Three comparative trials have been done on intracavitary

hyperthermia in patients with oesophageal cancer47,48 or
locally advanced, poorly resectable rectal cancer.43
Endocavitary hyperthermia was an adjunct to radiotherapy
in two studies and to experimental chemotherapy in the
other.
A distinct improvement of local control was found with
hyperthermia for rectal cancer.43 Various criticisms
(definition of resectability, small number of patients,
differences in patients characteristics between the study
groups) have been made. No other group has confirmed
such an impressive improvement of resectability by a
preoperative treatment. In the two Japanese trials on
endocavitary hyperthermia in patients with oesophageal
cancer, the evidence is limited despite the positive results by
shortcomings in the study design (small number of patients,
with no statistical analysis, no appropriate randomisation,
questionable selection of patients, and an experimental
control group).47,48
Hyperthermic perfusion techniques

Much experience with hyperthermic chemoperfusion has

been gained since 1970. In contrast to external heating
methods, hyperthermic perfusion techniques carry the risk
of severe and persisting adverse effects (eg, neuropathy,
amputation of limbs). However, both hyperthermic isolated
limb perfusion and hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion
at different temperatures achieve high response rates in
comparison with historical control groups receiving
systemic chemotherapy. This success is due to both the
homogeneous and well controlled heat application and the
much higher (more than ten-fold) drug concentration
possible.
Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion has been mostly
used as a melphalan-based induction therapy in advanced
stages of non-resectable melanomas and soft-tissue
sarcomas (limited to one limb). Recent trials showed
further improvement in response rates with addition of
high doses of tumour necrosis factor, whereas application of
additional drugs (especially cisplatin) was not beneficial.
Because of these high response rates in phase II studies, no
prospective randomised trials on induction therapy with
hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion have yet been done.
We found three prospective studies with adjuvant
hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion after surgery for
melanomas of the limb.5052 Ghussen and colleagues50
reported that compared with surgery alone the
hyperthermic melphalan treatment improved both local
control and survival in patients with limb melanomas of
stage IIII after wide excision and regional lymph-node
dissection. The design of their study was not appropriate to
detect advantages in local control and survival according to
stage. Koops and colleagues52 found no benefit with regard
to occurrence of distant metastases and overall survival with
hyperthermic infusion of melphalan, but rates of local
recurrence and regional lymph-node metastases were
significantly lower.

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There has been one randomised study of hyperthermic

intraperitoneal perfusion (of mitomycin) in patients with
gastric cancer; it found a marginally significant
improvement in local recurrence with the hyperthermic
procedure compared with surgery alone.49
None of the hyperthermic perfusion techniques can be
unequivocally recommended as a standard treatment as yet,
especially because these methods have not been compared
systematically with normothermic perfusion. Both methods
are expensive and invasive procedures and may be associated
with major adverse effects. Therefore, application should be
strictly restricted to experienced treatment centres, where
patients are treated in clinical trials.
Regional hyperthermia

Regional heating integrated in a multimodal approach is

indicated for patients with locally advanced deep-seated
tumours. The application of regional hyperthermia is,
however, more complex than local heating, particularly
because of wide variation in physical and physiological
properties. It requires more sophisticated planning,
thermometry, and quality assurance. However, with the
latest technology (figure 3), safe and efficient regional
hyperthermia was validated in phase III studies with only
minimally invasive thermometry catheters and no major
side-effects.58 In various phase II studies, high response rates
have been achieved with combinations of regional
hyperthermia and radiotherapy (pelvic tumours),
chemotherapy (soft-tissue sarcomas, germ-cell tumours),
and radiochemotherapy (cervical and rectal carcinomas).62
Tumours of the upper abdomen are difficult to heat, mainly
because of the lack of reliable measurement methods.
Regional hyperthermia of other anatomical regions such as
the thorax or neck presents practical difficulties and is not
feasible.
Most clinical trials on regional hyperthermia have used
the approach as an adjunct to radiotherapy. A multicentre
European Organisation on Research and Treatment of
Cancer (EORTC) trial for the assessment of regional
hyperthermia in high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas has lately
been initiated.60 Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, ifosfamide,
etoposide) with or without regional hyperthermia precedes
surgery, and then adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy
(with or without regional hyperthermia) are administered.
Another approach with preoperative radiotherapy plus
regional hyperthermia has been investigated at the Duke
Medical Center.63 Both regimens gave encouraging clinical
results. In other phase II studies, regional hyperthermia was
combined with cisplatin for recurrent (preirradiated)
cervical cancer, or with oxaliplatin and fluorouracil for
recurrent (preirradiated) rectal cancer.64
Positive results have been achieved with regional
hyperthermia in conjunction with radiotherapy in patients
with pelvic tumours. A Dutch phase III trial showed
improvement of local efficacy in a mixed cohort of patients
with locally advanced cervical, bladder, or rectal carcinoma,
and a major survival benefit in patients with cancer of the
uterine cervix (51% vs 27% in a group with more than 80%
of tumours of FIGO stage III or IV, which explains the poor

494

results in the control group).14 For patients with rectal

cancer (mostly recurrences), no significant improvement
was seen. As discussed elsewhere, the value of hyperthermia
in these patients may have been underestimated for various
reasons.65 Based on a phase II trial,59 another phase III trial is
underway at the Charit Medical Center on patients
with primary, non-metastatic, locally advanced rectal
cancer (table 1). An interim analysis of this trial, with
123 patients undergoing preoperative radiochemotherapy
with or without regional hyperthermia, showed a trend
towards higher local efficacy in the hyperthermia group,
also associated with a clear thermal doseresponse
relation.15
The favourable results of a Dutch trial have recently been
confirmed by a smaller, but statistically well-designed,
Japanese study of patients with cervical cancer of FIGO stage
IIIb.44 A significantly improved response was found in the
hyperthermia group. Recent trials have proved that cisplatin
added to radiotherapy achieves better results than
radiotherapy alone,66 so the control groups in these two trials
received insufficient treatment. However, the benefit of
additional chemotherapy is most relevant in patients with
tumours of lower stages, whereas the benefit in locally
advanced and large pelvic tumours is limited. Therefore,
hyperthermic radiochemotherapy might further improve
the prognosis of patients with locally advanced cervical
cancer. Evaluation in a comparative trial is planned.
Nevertheless, for patients with cancer of the uterine cervix
who have contraindications to cisplatin-based chemotherapy, regional hyperthermia as an adjunct to radiotherapy can be recommended as an effective standard
treatment.
Another important phase III trial is underway dealing
with locally advanced soft-tissue sarcomas (EORTC 62961/
European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology RHT-95). A
neoadjuvant chemotherapy (EIA protocol) with or without
regional hyperthermia is administered. This concept is based
on encouraging phase II studies.60,67
Other hyperthermia approaches of clinical interest are
under investigation for prostate cancer,68 preirradiated rectal
cancer (Hildebrandt et al, unpublished data), and
particularly, use of part-body hyperthermia for peritoneal
carcinosis (for ovarian cancer) in conjunction with
chemotherapy (liposomal doxorubicin).
Whole-body hyperthermia

Whole-body hyperthermia in conjunction with systemic

chemotherapy is the only option available for patients with
advanced and metastatic malignant tumours. No
randomised phase III studies have so far been completed for
moderate (less than 410C) or extreme whole-body
hyperthermia (415420C), but at least four studies have
started since 2000 for the extreme procedure. Reports of
moderate whole-body hyperthermia induced for up to 6 h
have shown that the approach is feasible. Nevertheless, its
role is controversial. Therefore, we confine this discussion to
extreme whole-body hyperthermia.
Promising results for whole-body hyperthermia in
combination with chemotherapy have been obtained in

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Review

Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

several phase II studies of patients with recurrent soft-tissue

sarcomas, ovarian cancer, or primary pleural mesothelioma.
Results are difficult to interpret because dose-intensified
regimens were used, mainly with carboplatin and ifosfamide.
There is also some information about less doseintensified chemotherapy in patients with metastatic
colorectal carcinoma. A preliminary report of a phase I/II
trial showed that with mitomycin and fluorouracil, 1020%
of patients could profit from additional whole-body
hyperthermia through improved remission rates. Another
group obtained excellent results in a phase II trial with
oxaliplatin, fluorouracil, and folinic acid in pretreated
patients. Phase III studies based on these results are urgently
needed.

Conclusions
Recent clinical results give new insight into the mechanisms
of hyperthermia in multimodal oncological treatments.
Hyperthermia is thought to affect tumour sensitivity to
other treatments mainly through microenvironmental
factors such as pH. One hypothesis is that hypoxic and
therefore resistant tumour regions are preferentially eliminated under hyperthermic conditions because associated
hypovascularisation results in higher temperatures and
higher sensitivity due to hypoxia. This assumption has been
questioned, since chronic hypoxia also leads to an
adaptation (development of tolerance), and the real
temperature distribution on a cellular tissue level (hypoxic vs
well vascularised areas) is uncertain.
By contrast, functional radiological examinations have
shown that some tumours undergo a long-lasting rise in
average perfusion, inducing not only an increase in the entry
of cytostatic drugs, but also probably an improvement in
acute oxygenation and long-term reoxygenation. This
process as postulated from preclinical work occurs even at
temperatures of 4041C and could explain the positive
results of phase III studies in which lower temperatures were
achieved. Such a positive effect through hyperthermia could
exist below 43C particularly in cervical carcinomas,14 since
in other clinical studies of this tumour the pO2 was a
significant prognostic indicator.69 Recent attempts to
increase the tumour pO2 with erythropoietin supplementation in conjunction with radiotherapy are based on
such results.
With whole-body hyperthermia, tumour temperatures
of about 42C can be reached for 60 min with great
certainty. Thus, the method in this respect is reproducible
and can be applied to some extent already without
complications. Nevertheless, the method is still associated
with systemic and local side-effects. The extent of the
therapeutic benefit is also uncertain, since all normal cells
are subjected to high temperatures like the tumour.
Nevertheless, several mechanisms and hypotheses suggest
synergism between the applied cytostatic drugs and
hyperthermia in tumour cells. These include stronger inflow of the cytostatic drug resulting from a relative increase
in perfusion at higher temperatures and vascular collapse.
Another assumption is that the metabolic rate is lower in
the bone marrow leading to relative protection of the

THE LANCET Oncology Vol 3 August 2002

haemopoietic system.70 All these remain, nevertheless,

hypotheses. Again, evidence from phase III studies is now
more than overdue for this method, which is already being
practised.
Locoregional hyperthermia methods may provide
greater therapeutic gain than whole-body hyperthermia.
Phase III studies have shown that these methods do not
increase the toxicity of other associated therapies, and the
hyperthermia-specific
side-effects
are
acceptable.
Furthermore, in several indications a significant increase in
local effectiveness was observed by use of hyperthermia in
conjunction with various schedules of radiotherapy. Three
types of tumour (locally advanced cervical carcinoma,
advanced neck disease of head and neck tumours, and
glioblastoma) even showed a survival benefit. However, in
the meantime these indications have therapeutic
alternatives.
Other tumours, such as recurrent breast tumours,
recurrent melanoma, and carcinoma of the bladder showed
an increase in local effectiveness but no positive effect on
recurrence-free or overall survival.14 Nevertheless, these
studies confirm the proof of principle for these locoregional
methods. Multicentre randomised studies unfortunately
showed a beneficial effect only for small lesions owing to
unsatisfactory quality assurance.
Improvements are still necessary for locoregional
methods. Many documented correlations of the quality of
hyperthermia (thermal variables) and effectiveness (response
rate) show the potential of these methods to improve clinical
results by further technological improvements. Novel
oncological therapies such as gene therapy, immunotherapy,
or temperature-dependent liposomes could be triggered
by a temperature increase or could be improved with
hyperthermia.
A precondition for better reproducibility and therapy
safety is non-invasive thermometry, which could permit use
of the approach in such regions as the upper abdomen and
lower thorax. It could lead to better selection of patients and
to better definition of thermal goals and a dose-effect
relation. How far the volume of a target region can be
extended is still a matter of clinical research.
Improved understanding of the array applicators is also
achievable, not only in the design of the single radiating
element (antenna) in the near-field range (matching,
symmetrisation, efficiency), but also in combining these
antennas in an array. The coupling between the antennas is
the most essential and critical feature, which has to be as low
as possible in a well controllable array. Transforming
networks are needed to link the amplifier system and
antennas. A kind of feed-back control must be established
between the amplifier system (ie, the single generators) and a
patient-adapted power distribution.
Our present knowledge emphasises the development of feedpoint control and adjustment (phases and amplitudes at the
antenna feed points). Significant progress has been obtained
lately in hyperthermia planning, whereby the E-field
distribution in a three-dimensional patient could be
calculated, and also transforming networks could be
modelled.

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Hyperthermia in cancer treatment

Search strategy and selection criteria

All the completed randomised studies in this review were
identified by searches of Medline. Additional continuing
randomised trial are known from recent international conferences of the hyperthermia organisations (in particular the
European Society of Hyperthermic Oncology). The phase II
studies referenced are a collection personally weighted and
known from the German Hyperthermia Organisation, where all
German trials are listed, and further from international conferences of the European Society of Hyperthermic Oncology.
All completed randomised studies have been published in peerreviewed international journals in English.

Only when the physical optimum of locoregional

hyperthermia is achieved will its clinical potential be
apparent. New insights into molecular mechanisms will
enable innovative future approaches such as heat-controlled
gene therapy or heat-enhanced tumour vaccination. In every
case, the best performance possible of heat treatments is
desirable. Available hyperthermia technology has already
shown some benefit to patients in clinical studies.
Conflict of interest

None declared.
Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the Deutsche Krebshilfe for their

continuous and valuable support of hyperthermia in Germany and
Europe.
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