“Hyperthermia methods”, which aim to increase the temperature of the patient’s whole body or the temperature of the tumor with specially developed devices, are an important treatment option for many diseases today. Hyperthermia, which means treatment with heat, is used in the treatment of cancer, which has many different subtypes; There are many studies showing that it increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. With this feature, hyperthermia is an evidence-based “complementary” procedure in the field of cancer. It is examined under two main headings: Whole Body Hyperthermia and Regional Hyperthermia.
What is Hyperthermia?
Hyperthermia means “heat treatment” and also known as thermotherapy, it is an important treatment option that is applied by increasing the whole body temperature of the patient with specially developed devices and is preferred for many diseases.
Hyperthermia is used in the treatment of which diseases?
Hyperthermia is used to treat cancer, which has many different subtypes. There are many studies that show that the method increases the effect of basic cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and as such, hyperthermia is an evidence-based “complementary” technique in the field of cancer.
How is Hyperthermia Used in Cancer Treatment?
Hyperthermia is examined under 2 main headings as ‘Whole Body’ and ‘Regional’.
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Cancer Treatment with Whole Body Hyperthermia
A healthy person responds to the threat of illness with an increased body temperature, namely fever. Fever plays an important role in the activation and regulation of the immune system. This situation can be evaluated as a “natural, temporary immunological special program”. The main function of whole body hyperthermia in cancer treatment is to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy and to strengthen the immune system. It makes the treatment more effective when applied together with chemotherapy, especially in patients with extensive tumors. it can also provide a measurable increase in immune system function.
In whole-body hyperthermia, lamps emitting infrared-A rays, which do not harm the skin and have a depth effect water filter, are directed directly to the abdomen and body. During the procedure, the patient’s vital functions (blood pressure, pulse, oxygen saturation, respiratory frequency and body temperature) are monitored, resulting in a controlled and targeted increase in body temperature. Studies show that the optimal body temperature for the activation of the immune system is 39 °C – 40 °C. The target body temperature in cancer treatment is around 39 °C – 40 °C. Although the treatment varies according to the body’s response and the time it takes to reach the target temperature, it takes an average of 4 hours.
Cancer Treatment with Regional (local) Hyperthermia
Regional hyperthermia was developed after many years of studies in the field of cancer treatment. This method is based on the principle of heating the tumor area with radio frequency waves. It can safely increase the effectiveness of existing cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In this method, which is also defined as “regional deep electro hyperthermia”, intense energy between 42 °C and 44 °C is applied to the tumor area, which is targeted in the tissue. Tumor cells can be visualized by applying regional hyperthermia. In this way, it is possible that hyperthermia makes radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy more effective. In some cases, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, which were not effective before, may be more successful when used together with hyperthermia.
Cancer cells under the influence of hyperthermia form “heat shock proteins”; These proteins appear on degraded cell surfaces, and the body’s own immune system recognizes these proteins as foreign cells. This is a clear indication that immune cells are fighting cancer cells. A significant increase in heat shock protein does not occur in healthy cells under hyperthermia and normal cells are not damaged by hyperthermia.
During the treatment, which lasts approximately 60 minutes, the patient lies comfortably on the treatment bed. Adjustable radio frequency waves are directed to the tumor area with two opposite electrode heads. High temperature between 42 °C and 44 °C is reached and this temperature damages cancer cells and tumor vessels.
- Primary tumors or tumors that have spread (metastasized)
- Tumors in organs (liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs, etc.)
- digestive system tumors
- Hip region (pelvis) tumors
- Head and neck tumors
- Brain tumors or spread to the brain (metastasis)
- Breast cancer (local recurrence of breast cancer)
- Prostate cancer
- Melanoma
- Superficial tumors
Frequently asked Questions
Cellular stress and damage caused by heat cause cancer cells to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death).
Cancerous tissue has hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and an acidic environment. This reduces the effect of chemotherapy drugs and radiotherapy on cancerous tissue. With the increase in temperature, the blood supply of the tumor increases, so the acidic environment decreases and helps other treatment methods to play a more effective role.
Heat increases the production of “heat shock proteins” at the cellular level. This increases the activity of immune cells known as ‘natural-killers’. With the effect of heat, the production of tumor-specific antigen and the extracellular outflow of antigens also increase. in other words, the masks that allow cancerous cells to be hidden from the immune system fall, thus making it easier for the cancer to be recognized by the immune system. It facilitates the passage of antigen presenting cells of the immune system to the lymph nodes and the immunological response of T cells at the “tumor site”.
The structure of the capillaries feeding the tumor in the cancerous tissue is different from the normal vessels. Especially with regional hyperthermia, micro-thrombosis (clot) may form in these vessels and the nutrition of the tumor may be impaired.
