Local microwave hyperthermia in cancer therapy. Preliminary report.
From February 1981 to September 1981, 16 patients (19 fields) with histologically proven malignancy (10 squamous carcinoma, 4 melanoma, 1 adenocarcinoma, 1 chordoma) were treated with hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy (1 patient). There were 5 females and 11 males; average age was 65 years, range 45 to 94 years; 15 patients had  a Karnofsky index greater than 50%. Hyperthermia (42.5 44.0 degrees C) was induced by 250 MHz to 1 GHz microwaves (BSD - 1000 Unit). Thermometry was performed by means of non-perturbing probes placed in intratumorally inserted catheters and by measurement of skin temperatures. After hyperthermia plus radiotherapy (18 fields), 9 patients showed 100% response, 5 a volume regression of more than 50%, 3 less than 50% and 1 no change. After chemotherapy plus hyperthermia, 1 patient showed no change. No significant side effects were observed (3 skin burns in 147 hyperthermia treatment sessions).
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006358:Hot Temperature / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*