Hyperthermia

What is Hyperthermia?

Hyperthermia is a treatment method that increases the effect of radiotherapy and chemotherapy by exposing the tissues to high temperatures above physiological levels in the treatment of cancer. When tumor tissues are heated between 42° and 45°, a series of biochemical reactions occur that have important biological consequences for cancer therapy. Hyperthermia has a direct cytotoxic effect, but more importantly, it makes tumor cells more susceptible to other treatment modalities such as radiation or chemotherapy. Hyperthermia also causes an increase in the size of the microvascular pores, increasing the penetration of macromolecular therapeutic agents such as liposome-encapsulated drugs and monoclonal antibodies and drug-carrying polymers into the tissue. The ability of cells to temporarily adapt to heat stress and gain resistance is called thermotolerance. Thermotolerance can provide greater exposure of tumor cell antigens to immune cells, thereby enhancing innate immune responses. With the developments in thermal biology, physics and bioengineering, it is thought that hyperthermia will play an active role in the treatment of cancer patients in the next century.