[Hyperthermia: microwave hyperthermia in combination with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy of cancer of the pancreas].

Fourty eight patients with cancer of head of pancreas have been treated by the intra-arterial infusion of 5-FU and Mitomycin C alone or in combination with regional hyperthermia, employing microwave machine operating at a frequency of 2450 MHz. In patients treated with intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy alone the average survival of 4.2 month was attained, whereas the average survival of 9.0 month has been seen in 39 patients treated with infusion chemotherapy and hyperthermia. The hyperthermia treatment has improved the local therapeutic effects and the effects on the survival of the patients. Thanks to this combination therapy 27 of 39 patients (69%) survived more than 6 month, and 12 patients (31%) survived more than one year, longest survival being 7 years. This study confirms that heat administered by the microwave unit potentiated the effects of the intraarterial infusion chemotherapy.