Regional hyperthermia in the treatment of recurrent deep-seated tumors: preliminary analysis of phase I trial.

This is a preliminary report on a phase I pilot study of regional hyperthermia of advanced tumors, using annular phased array system (APAS) in combination with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. All patients were treated without anesthesia. In all hyperthermia sessions, physiological parameters such as blood pressure, cardiac rate, respiratory rate, and EKG were monitored throughout the treatment. Tumor temperature was monitored with intratumoral probe with an additional probe either in the esophagus or rectum for monitoring systemic temperature. Present reports are on analysis of the first 30 patients: a total of 139 treatment sessions were analyzed. The results indicate local discomfort, anxiety, systemic temperature elevation, and tachycardia were the predominant factors limiting the number of sessions, the duration of sessions, and the deposition of power, in 18, 6, 6, and 2 patients, respectively. The complications were rare. No injuries to visceral organs clearly attributed to the hyperthermia have been recorded.