Efficacy of hyperthermia in combination with radiation therapy for breast cancer

Abstract

Hyperthermia continues to show clinical benefits in randomized trials across a spectrum of malignancies, with generally well-tolerated side effects when administered as multimodality therapy. Hyperthermia contributes to direct tumor cell killing, and may also enhance the antitumor effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Particularly, hyperthermia has been shown to be beneficial for treating superficial malignancies, such as chest wall recurrence of breast cancer. Although much evidence has been gained from clinical trials and studies of hyperthermia, regular use has not yet been established for breast cancer treatment. In this review article, we will highlight the benefits of therapeutic hyperthermia and the combined use of hyperthermia and radiation, and overview the results reported from clinical trials.