CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH HYPERTHERMIA IN CONJUNCTION WITH RADIATION-THERAPY

The authors have reviewed the medical records of 421 sessions of hyper thermia treatments in 73 patients treated between 1987 and 1992 at the University Heights Cancer Center and the Indiana University Medical C enter in Indianapolis, Ind. Temperatures attained during the course of therapy on each patient have been averaged and the results were evalu ated for complete, partial, or no response. All patients had previousl y failed conventional radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. Res ponses were defined as: (1) Complete response - lesions that completel y disappeared during treatment and the response was sustained for a mi nimum of 6 months. (2) Partial response -lesions that underwent a redu ction in size of greater than 50%. (3) No response - less than 50% red uction in tumor size during the course of treatment. Response varied s omewhat according to histology and anatomical site of treatment; howev er, complete response was achieved in 45%, partial response in 48% (fo r an overall response of 93%), and no response in 7% of the patients. The response achieved varied with temperature attained and a minimum t emperature of 40-degrees-C for 40 min produced the greatest number of responses. Response to hyperthermia was directly related to the temper ature achieved and the length of time the temperature was applied.