Clinical thermochemotherapy. A controlled trial in advanced cancer patients

Abstract

In vitro and in vivo animal studies and some clinical trials have shown apparent benefit from thermochemotherapy; however, this treatment modality has not been adequately tested in humans. This investigation evaluated response to and toxicity of secondary thermochemotherapy, using each patient as his own control. Patients with advanced cancer who had documented disease progression while receiving chemotherapy alone were subsequently treated with the same drug, by the same dose and route, combined with localized hyperthermia. Thirty-four patients whose diseases included metastatic colon carcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma and hepatoma in viscera (29) or surface tissues (5) were treated with combination thermochemotherapy for 1 hour daily for 5 days/month. Effective heating from 41 to 45 degrees C minimum tumor temperature was possible in 17/19 (89%) tumors in which temperatures could be measured safely. The authors observed 5 (15%) tumor regressions for 1 to 5 months (median, 2 months), and 19 (56%) tumor stabilizations (growth arrest of previously progressive disease) for 1 to 9 months (median, 4 months). Subjective improvement in activity and/or pain control occurred in 6 (18%) patients and 20 (59%) had no progression of symptoms during treatment. Moreover, there was no detectable morbidity from localized hyperthermia, and no evidence of increased chemotherapy toxicity. While the mechanism(s) of response is poorly understood, the documented disease regressions and stabilizations of previously progressive disease in 24 (71%) patients during secondary combination thermochemotherapy indicates that the addition of hyperthermia may have useful anticancer activity. Expanded trials are warranted.