Fever and cancer in perspective

Abstract

Context: A relationship between feverish infection and concurrent remission from cancer has been known about for a very long time. However, a systematic investigation of the phenomenon has not yet been made.

Objective: To bring together the isolated observations about the coincidence of spontaneous remissions with feverish infections and William Coley's seminal work, as a basis for devising an immunological hypothesis about the putative anti-cancer effect of fever.

Conclusion: Fever induction under medical guidance may be considered as part of a therapy regimen for cancers of mesodermal origin.