Hyperthermia therapy, also known as thermal therapy, thermotherapy, or thermal ablation, is a cancer treatment that uses heat to damage and kill cancer cells.
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Hyperthermia is rarely used as a standalone treatment for cancer. Instead, it is most often used in combination with other treatments like radiation therapy and chemotherapy, as the heat can make cancer cells more sensitive to these therapies.
How It Works
Hyperthermia works in a few ways:
Directly killing cancer cells: High temperatures can directly damage and destroy cancer cells.
Sensitizing cancer cells to other treatments: Heat can make cancer cells more vulnerable to the effects of radiation and certain chemotherapy drugs.
This can be particularly effective for parts of a tumor that are low in oxygen, which are often more resistant to radiation. Improving blood flow: Hyperthermia can increase blood flow to a tumor.
This improved circulation can help deliver a higher concentration of chemotherapy drugs to the cancer cells. Stimulating the immune system: Some research suggests that hyperthermia can activate the body's immune response to fight cancer.
Types of Hyperthermia
The type of hyperthermia used depends on the location and size of the tumor.
Local Hyperthermia: This method heats a small area, such as a single tumor.
Devices that use radio waves, microwaves, or ultrasound waves are used to generate the heat. Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): A thin, needle-like probe is inserted directly into the tumor.
The probe then emits high-frequency radio waves to heat and destroy the cancerous cells. RFA is one of the most common types of hyperthermia and is often used for tumors in the liver, kidneys, and lungs. - External Heating: For tumors on or just below the skin, devices are placed on the body's surface to focus heat on the target area.
- Interstitial Hyperthermia: Probes or needles are inserted directly into a deep-seated tumor (e.g., in the brain) to deliver heat.
Regional Hyperthermia: This approach heats a larger area of the body, such as an organ, a body cavity, or a limb.
Deep Tissue Techniques: Devices are placed around the body part to be treated, focusing energy on the target area. This can be used for cancers in the pelvis or abdomen, such as cervical or bladder cancer.
- Regional Perfusion: A patient's blood supply to a specific limb or organ is temporarily isolated, and the blood is removed, heated, and mixed with chemotherapy drugs before being pumped back into the area. This is often used for melanoma on an arm or leg.
- Continuous Hyperthermic Peritoneal Perfusion (CHPP) or HIPEC: Heated chemotherapy drugs are circulated through the abdominal cavity during surgery to treat cancers that have spread to the lining of the abdomen.
Whole-Body Hyperthermia: This method raises the body's temperature to a high fever-like state, typically between
107∘F and 108∘F ( 41.5∘C and 42.2∘C). It is used to treat cancer that has spread throughout the body. Techniques may involve placing the patient in a thermal chamber or wrapping them in heated blankets.
Side Effects
The side effects of hyperthermia are generally mild and temporary, and they often depend on the type of treatment and the area being heated.
Skin discomfort, redness, or blistering in the treated area.
Pain at the treatment site.
Infection or bleeding (with invasive techniques).
For whole-body hyperthermia, side effects can include nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Effectiveness and Availability
Research has shown promising results for hyperthermia when combined with other cancer treatments.
Hyperthermia is not widely available and is offered at only a few specialized cancer centers.
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