TITLE:
Review on the Use of Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia as a Stand-Alone Therapy in a Palliative Setting: Potential for Further Research?
AUTHORS:
C. A. Minnaar, G. P. Szigeti, A. M. Szasz, J. A. Kotzen
KEYWORDS:
Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia, Palliative Care, Monotherapy, Cancer
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Cancer Therapy,
Vol.13 No.6,
June
30,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Hyperthermia (HT) in oncology was originally applied as a stand-alone treatment (monotherapy), but achieving temperatures required to cause cellular destruction (>43ºC) proved to be challenging. Lower
temperatures may increase the risk of dissemination of the treated tumours.
Hyperthermia in the current context of oncology therefore aims to achieve
moderate temperatures of 39ºC - 41.5ºC and is applied in combination with chemotherapy (ChT) and/or radiotherapy (RT).
Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) applies
amplitude modulation to an electric field generated by a capacitive coupled
set-up, to selectively heat tumours. As mEHT does not appear to increase the
risk of disease dissemination, it has been investigated as a stand-alone
treatment for patients with advanced disease and who have exhausted all other
treatment options. This report is a descriptive review of papers in oncology
which report on the use of mEHT as a stand-alone treatment in a palliative
setting. We aim to establish whether there is motivation for the development of
trials to further investigate mEHT as a monotherapy in a palliative setting. Methods: A literature search was conducted using the key words “Oncothermia”, “modulated
electro-hyperthermia” and “monotherapy”, and case reports were
excluded. Only studies which applied mEHT without ChT or RT; for palliative
intent; when conventional therapies have failed; or when no further options are
available, were included. Results: Six phase I/II studies on tumours of
the liver, brain, pancreas, and stomach were included. The studies demonstrated
the safety of mEHT; disease stabilisation; and improved quality of life. Conclusion: mEHT may have a role in the palliative management of certain tumours in
the absence of any other treatment options. The development of robustly
designed studies on mEHT for palliative management of oncology patients is
motivated.