Hyperthermia - heating the tumor to 40-45 °C - combined with radiation and/or chemotherapy is a proven treatment for malignant tumors, Randomized clinical trials show combining hyperthermia with the other therapies improved disease free survival and local tumor control without an increase in toxicity.

Hyperthermia and Radiotherapy

The combination of hyperthermia and radiotherapy increases the effectiveness of radiotherapy alone. Hyperthermic temperatures increase blood circulation in tumors as a response to the stimulus of heat. Tumor tissues that have low blood flow are resistant to radiotherapy but are sensitive to hyperthermia, while tumor tissues with high blood flow are sensitive to radiotherapy. This highly complementary interaction is a compelling reason for combining hyperthermia and ionizing radiation.

Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy

For cytostatic drugs, hyperthermia used in combination with chemotherapy will increase the concentration of the drug at the tumor region because of the increased blood flow caused by heat. In addition hyperthermia has demonstrated the ability to enhance drug toxicity in cells resistant to many drugs. Hyperthermia can be employed synergistically with chemotherapy in strategies to treat high-risk tumors with the intent to cure.

What is Deep Regional Hyperthermia?

Deep regional hyperthermia provides therapeutic heating to deep-seated tumors that are located more than 3 cm under the skin surface. Focused electromagnetic energy radiated at about 100 MHz (radio frequency) raises the temperature of the tumor region to therapeutic temperatures. The radio frequency power can be adjusted in amplitude and phase to conform the heating pattern to the tumor shape and size. Several different applicators are available for treating various tumor locations.

What is Interstitial Hyperthermia?

Interstitial hyperthermia delivers the heat directly at the site of the tumor. It is comparable to radiation with brachytherapy. Combination of both modalities is therefore easy to deliver and effective for the treatment ol malignant tumors. Interstitial hyperthermia uses up to 24 small microwave antennas (1.1 mm in diameter) placed in the tumor volume. Temperature sensors (≤ 8) of the same diameter measure the temperatures for treatment control. The microwave power delivered to the antennas can tie adjusted in amplitude and phase to conform the heating pattern to the tumor.

Hyperthermia and Brachytherapy

The combination of hyperthermia and HDR-brachytherapy increases the treatment results of HDR-brachytherapy alone. The BSD 500 hyperthermia system is ideally suited for combined use with a brachytherapy system. Interstitial antennas fit neatly into brachytherapy catheters. The operator simply inserts antennas and heats the tumor after or before afterloading. HDR-brachytherapy isodose calculations are easily imported into the hyperthermia planning system.