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. 2015 Mar 18;10(2):109–116. doi: 10.1159/000376594

Table 1.

Comparative studies on the efficacy of hyperthermia for breast cancer treatment. The results with or without the addition of hyperthermia are presented as well as the toxicity reported for the combined treatment

Study [ref.] Tumor site Pat./lesions, n Treatment Results
 Toxicity of HT
without HT with HT
Lindholm et al. [11]

  • local recurrences or

  • subcutaneous and/or

  • cutaneous metastases

  • from breast cancers

 11/34

  • Low-dose

  • RT + local HT

  • CR 35%

  • PR 18%

  • NR 47%

  • CR 65%

  • PR 29%

  • NR 6%

  • depending on the operating frequency used

  • and the water bolus:

  • i) 2,450 MHz, no water bolus: severe

  •  (33%) to moderate (46%) pain;

  •  WHO toxicity > grade 2 45.5%

  • ii) 915 MHz + water bolus:

  • severe (8%) to moderate (34%) pain;

  • WHO toxicity > grade 2 12.5%
Gonzalez Gonzalez et al. [13]

  • chest wall recurrences

  • of breast carcinoma

 18 pat RT + HT

  • response rate:

  • 33.3% (3/9)

  • response rate:

  • 77.7% (7/9)

  • enhancement of acute skin reactions

  • no increase of late skin reactions

  • pain after HT treatment

  • hypersensitivity in treatment area

  • infections/catheter complications
Perez et al. [14] breast cancer RT + HT

  • tumors < 3 cm (diameter):

  • 55% (breast)

  • tumors <3cm (diameter):

  • 67% (breast)

 –
Li et al. [15]

  • advanced/locally

  • recurrent breast

  • cancre

  • 10 primary cases

  • 30 recurrent cases

  • total: 64 lesions

  • RT for small

  • lesions

  • RT +HT for

  • bigger lesions

 CR 36.4% CR 64.3% N.A.
Masunaga et al. [16]

  • locally advanced

  • and/or recurrent

  • breast cancer

 26/30 RT + HT

  • CR + PR

  • primary tumor: 55%

  • recurrent tumor after RT: 84%

  • local control

  • primary tumor: 67%

  • recurrent tumor after

  • operation: 71%

  • recurrent tumor after RT: 75%

  • CR + PR

  • primary tumor: 91%

  • recurrent tumor after RT: 92%

  • local control

  • primary tumor: 90%

  • recurrent tumor after

  • operation: 80%

  • recurrent tumor after RT: 67%

  • pain during treatment

  • 2nd degree skin burn (33.3%)

  • moist desquamation (26.7%)
Perez et al. [17] RT + HT

  • tumors < 3 cm (diameter):

  • CR 40% (breast)

  • tumors < 3 cm (diameter):

  • CR 62% (breast)

  • thermal blistering (30%)

  • thermal blistering (30%)

  • no increase of acute/late radiation reactions
Vernon et al. [18] breast cancer 306 pat. RT + HT

  • CR41%

  • previously irradiated pat.:

  • CR 31%

  • CR 59%

  • previously irradiated pat.:

  • CR 57%

  • mild/moderate erythema (50%)

  • severe erythema-desquamation (23%)

  • thermal blistering (11%)

  • ulceration (7%)

  • necrosis (7%)

  • fibrosis (52%)

  • telangiectaisa (30%)

  • pigmentation (46%)
Sherar et al. [10] chest wall recurrences

  • 276 pat.

  • RT: 128

  • RTHT: 148

 RT + HT CR 41% CR 61% –
Jones et al. [7]

  • superficial lesions including

  • breast cancer

  • 108 pat.:

  • RT 52

  • RTHT 56

  • breast cancer:

  • RT 33

  • RTHT 37

 RT + HT

  • CR 42%

  • LC 25%

  • previously irradiated pat.:

  • CR 24%

  • not previously irradiated pat.:

  • CR 51%

  • CR 66%

  • LC 48%

  • previously irradiated pat.:

  • CR 68%

  • not previously irradiated pat.:

  • CR 65%

  • thermal injuries:

  • grade 1 25%

  • grade 2 16%

  • grade 3 5%

  • thermometry catheter complications

  • (pain-infections): 11%
Wahl et al. [19]

  • locally recurrent breast

  • cancer

 81 pat.

  • RT

  • RT + CT

  • RT + HT

  • (54% of pat.)

  • CR 39%

  • 1-year local DFS 44%

  • (gross disease)

  • CR 67%

  • 1-year local DFS 58%

  • (gross disease)

  • induration/fibrosis (34.1%)

  • lymphedema (25%)

  • skin infections (11.4%)

  • soft-tissue necrosis (4.5%)

  • brachial plexopathy (2.3%)

  • pneumonitis (2.3%)

RT = Radiotherapy; CT = chemotherapy; HT = hyperthermia; RTHT = RT + HT; CR = complete response; PR = partial response; NR = non-response; LC = local control; SD = standard disease; NC = non-control

PD = progressive disease; DFS = disease-free survival; N.A. = not available.