[Application of heat combined with antineoplastic agent administration in the treatment of cancer (with special reference to malignancy of the digestive system)]

Abstract

Recently, there is a renewed interest in the efficacy of hyperthermia in human cancer therapy. Based on the results of our experimental studies, we treated far-advanced cancer patients with extracorporeally induced total-body hyperthermia (TBHT) or continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP). In the TBHT combined with anticancer chemotherapy, a partial remission was observed in 4 (25.0%) of 16 far-advanced cancer patients. However, the improvement of survival time was unsatisfactory. The CHPP combined with anticancer chemotherapy was performed in 23 gastric cancer patients with peritoneal dissemination. In 6 of them, subjective complaints were improved, but the remarkable prolongation of survival time was not obtained. If in the future hyperthermochemotherapy is performed for cancer recurrence in early stage, more favourable results may be expected.