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. 2023 May;199(5):436-444.
doi: 10.1007/s00066-022-01980-9. Epub 2022 Aug 29.

A patterns of care analysis of hyperthermia in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or chemotherapy in European clinical centers

Adela Ademaj  1   2 , Paraskevi D Veltsista  3 , Dietmar Marder  1 , Roger A Hälg  1   4 , Emsad Puric  1 , Thomas B Brunner  5 , Hans Crezee  6 , Dorota Gabrys  7 , Martine Franckena  8 , Cihan Gani  9 , Michael R Horsman  10 , Robert Krempien  11 , Lars H Lindner  12 , Sergio Maluta  13 , Markus Notter  14 , Griseldis Petzold  15 , Sultan Abdel-Rahman  12 , Antonella Richetti  16 , Andreas R Thomsen  17   18 , Pelagia Tsoutsou  19 , Rainer Fietkau  20 , Oliver J Ott  20 , Pirus Ghadjar  3 , Oliver Riesterer  21   22
Affiliations

A patterns of care analysis of hyperthermia in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or chemotherapy in European clinical centers

Adela Ademaj et al. Strahlenther Onkol. 2023 May.

Abstract

Purpose: The combination of hyperthermia (HT) with radio(chemo)therapy or chemotherapy (CT) is an established treatment strategy for specific indications. Its application in routine clinical practice in Europe depends on regulatory and local conditions. We conducted a survey among European clinical centers to determine current practice of HT.

Methods: A questionnaire with 22 questions was sent to 24 European HT centers. The questions were divided into two main categories. The first category assessed how many patients are treated with HT in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or CT for specific indications per year. The second category addressed which hyperthermia parameters are recorded. Analysis was performed using descriptive methods.

Results: The response rate was 71% (17/24) and 16 centers were included in this evaluation. Annually, these 16 centers treat approximately 637 patients using HT in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or CT. On average, 34% (range: 3-100%) of patients are treated in clinical study protocols. Temperature readings and the time interval between HT and radio(chemo)therapy or CT are recorded in 13 (81%) and 9 (56%) centers, respectively. The thermal dose quality parameter "cumulative equivalent minutes at 43 °C" (CEM43°C) is only evaluated in five (31%) centers for each HT session. With regard to treatment sequence, 8 (50%) centers administer HT before radio(chemo)therapy and the other 8 in the reverse order.

Conclusion: There is a significant heterogeneity among European HT centers as to the indications treated and the recording of thermometric parameters. More evidence from clinical studies is necessary to achieve standardization of HT practice.

Keywords: Thermal dose; Thermometric parameter; Time interval; Treatment sequence; Treatment standardization.

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Conflict of interest statement

A. Ademaj, P.D. Veltsista, D. Marder, R.A. Hälg, E. Puric, T.B. Brunner, H. Crezee, D. Gabrys, M. Franckena, C. Gani, M.R. Horsman, R. Krempien, L.H. Lindner, S. Maluta, M. Notter, G. Petzold, S. Abdel-Rahman, A. Richetti, A.R. Thomsen, P. Tsoutsou, R. Fietkau, O. Ott, P. Ghadjar, and O. Riesterer declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Approximate number of patients (N) treated yearly per clinical center with hyperthermia (HT) in combination with chemotherapy (in total 205) and with HT in combination with radio(chemo)therapy (in total 637)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Approximate number of patients (N) treated for different indications per year with hyperthermia in combination with a radio(chemo)therapy and b chemotherapy
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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