Thermoradiotherapy and Thermochemotherapy

Book excerpt: Hyperthermia has been found to be of great benefit in combination with radiation therapy or chemotherapy in the management of patients with difficult and com plicated tumor problems. It has been demonstrated to increase the efficacy, of ionising radiation when used locally but also has been of help in combination with systemic chemotherapy where hyperthermia is carried out to the total body. Problems remain with regard to maximizing the effects of hyperthermia as in fluenced by blood flow, heat loss, etc. The present volume defines the current knowledge relative to hyperthermia with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, giving a comprehensive overview of its use in cancer management. Philadelphia/Hamburg, June 1995 L.W. BRADY H.-P. HEILMANN Preface In an attempt to overcome tumor resistance, hypoxia, or unfavorable tumor condi tions, oncological research has come to focus on gene therapy, immunotherapy, new cytotoxic agents, and increasingly sophisticated radiotherapy. Radiation research has been directed towards heavy particle therapy and modification of the radiation response by either protecting or sensitizing agents. Improved dose localization using rotational or conformal strategies has also been implemented. Recently, changes in radiation fractionation schedules have shown promise of better results. Hyperthermia in cancer therapy can be viewed similarly as another means to increase the sensitivity of tumors to radio- and chemotherapy.