title: Clinical application of low dose-rate brachytherapy combined with simultaneous mild temperature hyperthermia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent biological research has shown that mild temperature hyperthermia (MTH) around 41 degrees C simultaneously combined with low dose-rate irradiation (LDRI) is an effective treatment modality for cancer. The aim of the study was to assess the clinical usefulness of a combination of MTH and simultaneous low dose-rate brachytherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven superficial and 8 deep-seated tumors were included in this protocol. Two tumors had no previous treatment and the remainder were recurrent tumors which had arisen from previously treated sites. The average major diameters of superficial and deep tumors were 8.6 and 7.0 cm, respectively. The average values for Tmin in superficial and deep tumors were 41.5 and 40.7 degrees C, respectively. Brachytherapy was delivered by 137Cs and/or 192Ir LDRI sources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For superficial tumors, six of the seven tumors responded to the treatment (4 achieved CR, 2 PR, 1 NC) and four tumors did not recur within the follow-up period of 5-15 months. All of the deep tumors responded and 5 achieved CR, 3 PR. Four tumors recurred 4-17 months after the treatment and the remainder showed no local recurrence within the follow-up period of 4-31 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTH simultaneously combined with LDRI was an effective method for treating progressive and bulky tumors with a previous treatment history.
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, Gunma University School of Medicine, 3-39-22, Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan. hsakurai@med.gunma-u.ac.jp
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Sakurai
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Mitsuhashi
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Tamaki
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Kurosaki
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Akimoto
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Ishikawa
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Saitoh
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Muramatsu
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Yamakawa
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Hayakawa
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Niibe
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome