Antiangiogenic metronomic chemotherapy and hyperthermia in the palliation of advanced cancer.
Among a large series of cancer patients treated with a combination of chemotherapy and sessions of hyperthermia, particular attention was given to a specific group of patients with advanced cancer who refused standard, aggressive, treatment. In these cases, hyperthermia was associated to low-dose (metronomic) chemotherapy. No toxicity was reported in any of our patients, while a marginal benefit in terms of tumour progression was observed. During therapy, we could detect a coagulative perturbation that deserves careful discussion. In our opinion, this experience should be matter of debate to conclude if current response criteria (WHO/UICC and RECIST) in treating cancer patients are really suitable tools to evaluate new, and non-aggressive anticancer strategies.
Franchi
F
F
Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Roma La Sapienza, Italy. Fabriziofranchi@interfree.it
Grassi
P
P
Ferro
D
D
Pigliucci
G
G
De Chicchis
M
M
Castigliani
G
G
Pastore
C
C
Seminara
P
P
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006979:Hyperthermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000941:ethics / Q000379:methods*; D016312:Treatment Refusal
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents