Microwave Hyperthermia III

STABILIZATION OF INOPERABLE MALIGNANT TUMOURS AFTER

TREATMENT WITH RADIOFREQUENCY HYPERTHRMIA
Pigliucci G.M. ; Iorio B. ; Vendi tti D.;
Tipaldi G.; Cervelli v.; Caldarelli G.;
Gatti A.; Fiorito R.; Casciani C.U .
Cattedra di Clinica Chirurgica
IIA Universita' di Roma -Italia-
ABSTRACT
The Authors have treated three groups oC
patients affected by inoperable tumours of
digestive tract (10 patients), of lung (10
patients) and of pelvis (10 patients). They
have submitted them to hyperthermia with
radio frequency treatment at 13.56 MHz. After
hyperthermic therapy, 75% of cases showed
a
have
and
60
local and general amelioration. The AA
noted in 40 of responsive cases a clinical
radiological reduction of tumours, in
of cases they noted a stabilization:
the hyperthermia seems to create a sort of
immunological response. They haven't noted
the quick worsening of general status induced
by traditional treatments with chemotherapy
and radiations.
INTRODUCTION
Comparaison between antiblastic therapies
in cancers is generally based on the regression
of the neoplastic mass.
In the context of the effects of therapies
on tumours, the concept of stabilization has
been disregarded in the past, because of the
sporadic results. The development, after hyper
thermic treatment, of peri tumoral edema and
later of background stromal fibrosis, justify
also those cases in which is not observed
a regression of the neoplasti mass.
In reality the concept of tumours stabilization
is more interesting when it's referred to
inoperable neoplasies, with a short term progno
sy, which showed a longer survival if compared
with control groups, homogeneous for localiza
tion, histology, stage of the disease.
Our study propose to evaluate the responses
of advanced cancers to thermotherapy, with
a particular attention to the effects of te
treatment on the dimension of the neoplastic
mass.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
We have used a 13.56 Mz radiofrequency generator
of LeVeen. The patients who underwent the treat
ment were affected from inoperable cancers
and have been treated before with standard
therapies, with no response. The patholog
was rappresented as follows: 10 patients with
digestive apparatus cancers (4 Ca of pancreas,
3 liver metastases, 3 primary tumours of liver);
10 patients with pulmonary cancers ( 2 "oats
cells" Ca, 5 "large cells" Ca, 3 adenoCa);
10 patients with pelviC cancers ( 3 colorectal
Ca, 7 Ca of bladder). All the patients have
been tested before and after the treatment
with X-Rays, ultrasounds, computerised tomografy.
A hyperthermia has been performed for 2 hours
every 48-72 hours, and has been combined with
low doses of chemio or radiotherapy when we
have obtained good haematological findings.
DISCUSSION
Thirty patients affected from cancers have shown po
sitive response to hyperthermic treatment.
In 75% of the cases we have observed an improve-
ment of
ment of
We noted
local status with a conseguent inorease
weight and haematological findings.
in 50% of the cases a regression of
pain
sian
after
the
mass.
expecially in pancreatic forms. The regres
of the neoplastic mass hass been established
40 days from the treatment in 40% of
patients, evaluable about the 35% of the
In 60% of the cases we have observed
also after 18 months, a stabilization of the
tumour.
0874--IEEE ENGINEERING IN MEDICINE & BIOLGY SOCIETY 10TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
CH2566-8/88/0000--0874 $1.00 e 1988 IEEE
In concern of pul monary cancers we have
noted an improve:nent of general and respiratory
conditions in 70% of the patlets. In 41
of cases ', have noted a regression of the
neopla8tc mass; especially in one patient
affected from lung microcitoma we ave obtained
a complete remission after 5 years from
the treatment. In 60% of the patients ( parLicu
lary 1 case of complete pulonary atelectasia
wi th the infi 1 tration of the carena and
2 cases of complete involvement of the lung)
radiological findings have resul ted not
modified after 12 month> also with the
improvement of general and rCSplratory condi
tions.
Hyperthermic
radiofrequency
shown posltive
CONCLUSION
wi th treatment
generator
res'll"s in
a 13.56 MHz
of LeVeen
quality of
have
life
and in survival rates, especially in those
cases of inoperable or metastAtic cancers
trealed with standard therapy before. Thermo
therapy, heating between 40 and 42 C,
is prohably responsable of a initial peritumo-
ral edema, as
induced by the
ment of the
Successively
local acidosis
a reaction Lo the necrosis
termic action, wit an increase
tu;noral mass about the 10-20%.
vasocostriction, hipossi&,
should determine the necrosis
of the cancer cells. Later, the bac"ground
stromal fibrosis can hide the regression
of the tumour; therefore t can be difficult
to demostrate radiologically the regression
of the tumour. Infact we have noted only
in 40% te reductlon of the neoplaotic mass,
\ile in 60% of patients we have observed
te aelioratio of general and local condi
tions without the variation of the tumour
dimension checked with X-Rays and U. S ..
Therefore, using as parameter tte volume regrs
sion of the mass and the improvement of -ene",::.l
condi tion, hyperthernia i:1 associatio 1 with
low doses of chemio and radiotherapy can be
considered more efficacy then cher otherapy
or radiotherapy alone.
'Ie hope t:'at these
the prosecution of
initial results encourage
use of hyperthermia in order
to obtajn a more correct approach to the neopla
s tic patients.
B TBLIOGRAPHY
MASAHIHO Il., SHTKEN J.O., et al . Cancer July 1,
121-127, 1987.
LEVEEN H.E., PICCONE A.N., et al . . Ann NY Icad Sci:
335,362-371, 1980.
STORM F.K., MORTUN l l.L., KAISER L.R.eL al.. Natl
Cancer Inst. Monogr.,61:343-jO, 1982.
PALIWAL B.R.,GIBRS LA., WILEY A.L .. lnt.J.Radiat.
Oncol.Biol.Phys.,8:857-e64, 1982.
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