INTENSIVE PREOPERATIVE RADIOTHERAPY WITH LOCAL HYPERTHERMIA FOR THE TREATMENT OF GASTRIC-CARCINOMA

In order to devitalize maximally tumour tissue and improve the prognos is of gastric cancer patients, a method employing preoperative intensi ve radiotherapy with local hyperthermia as adjuvant treatment was eval uated. In order to estimate the effectiveness of preoperative intensiv e radiation and radiation with local microwave hyperthermia in radical gastric cancer treatment, 293 patients were randomized into three res pective treatment groups: surgery alone, surgery preceded by preoperat ive radiation; and surgery followed by preoperative radiation and hype rthermia. Preoperative radiation therapy to a total dose of 20 Gy in f our 5 Gy fractions did not improve 3- or 5-year survival in gastric ca ncer patients in comparison with surgery alone. Local hyperthermia in combination with radiation therapy followed by surgery produced a sign ificant improvement in 3-year survival of 22.1% (from 35.5+/-4.9% to 5 7.6+/-6.3%, P<0.05) and 5-year survival of 21.3% (from 30.1+/-4.7 to 5 1.4+/-6.6%, P<0.05). In unresectable gastric cancer patients, radiatio n therapy and radiation therapy with hyperthermia both increase mean s urvival. In conclusion; intensive preoperative radiation therapy in to tal dose 20 Gy plus local microwave hyperthermia significantly improve d 3- and 5-year survival in comparison with surgery alone. Further dev elopment and evaluation of equipment to produce reliable and safe deli very systems for hyperthermia is needed.