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Review
. 2023 May 29;26(7):107010.
doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107010. eCollection 2023 Jul 21.

The forgotten art of cold therapeutic properties in cancer: A comprehensive historical guide

Tatiana P Grazioso  1   2   3 , Nabil Djouder  1
Affiliations
Review

The forgotten art of cold therapeutic properties in cancer: A comprehensive historical guide

Tatiana P Grazioso et al. iScience. .

Abstract

Cold therapy has been used for centuries, from Julius Caesar to Mohandas Gandhi, as a potent therapeutic approach. However, it has been largely forgotten in modern medicine. This review explores the history of cold therapy and its potential application as a therapeutic strategy against various diseases, including cancer. We examine the different techniques of cold exposure and the use of other therapeutical approaches, such as cryoablation, cryotherapy, cryoimmunotherapy, cryothalectomy, and delivery of cryogen agents. While clinical trials using cold therapy for cancer treatment are still limited, recent research shows promising results in experimental animal cancer models. This area of research is becoming increasingly significant and warrants further investigation.

Keywords: Cancer; Medicine; Systems biology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.GlossaryAbscopal effect: It is a phenomenon in which localized treatment of a tumor can trigger a systemic immune response that leads to the regression of distant, untreated tumors. In other words, the immune system is activated by the localized treatment and starts attacking cancer cells throughout the body. Core body temperature: Temperature of the internal organism. Cryoablation: In cancer, cryoablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy cancer cells and treat malignant neoplasms. During cryoablation, a thin probe is inserted into the tumor, and liquid nitrogen or argon gas is used to freeze the tissue. This freezing process creates ice crystals that damage the cancer cells, leading to their death. Cryotherapy: The use of extreme cold to freeze and remove abnormal tissue. Cryogen agents: Solids, liquids, or gases used for congelation. Cryoimmunotherapy: Therapeutical procedure that combines the use of tumor cryoablation with immunotherapy to treat cancer. Cryothalectomy: Surgical procedure that involves the direct application of extreme cold in the thalamic area of the brain. Hypothermia: Systemic or local reduction of the core body temperature below the thermoneutral range of the organism or normothermia. Ice bombs: Metal capsules designed by Dr. Fray as a mechanism of localized cryotherapy in the brain. Localized hypothermia: Precise and localized cooling in the tissue or area of interest. Medical ailment: Physical disorder or disease. Perspiration: Skin sweat glands secretions as a response to maintain normothermia. Thermoregulation: The biological systems of an organism that are responsible for maintaining a stable and physiological core body temperature independently of external influence. Thermoregulation is required to maintain body temperature homeostasis for organs and metabolic processes to function optimally. Whole body hypothermia: Systemic reduction of the core body temperature.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagnosis of case 46 extracted from the Edwin Smith Papyrus This translates as follows: “One having an abscess with prominent head in his breast. An ailment which I will treat with cold applications to that abscess which is in his breast.” Adapted from, extracted from the Edwin Smith Papyrus exposed at the New York Academy of Medicine, NY, USA.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cryoablation: mechanism of action and tumor-specific immune response
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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