Temperature steering in prostate by simultaneous transurethral and transrectal hyperthermia.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Physics
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Localized hyperthermia (HT) is explored for benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer (CaP).
• Transrectal (TR) and transurethral (TU) microwave (MW) devices are used for prostatic heating.
• Individual TR and TU methods have limitations in prostate heating depth and coverage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of combined TR and TU microwave hyperthermia for prostate cancer treatment.
• To determine if phase adjustments between TR and TU applicators can improve heating in the prostate center.
• To compare temperature profiles from combined heating with individual TR and TU methods.

Main Methods:

• Measurements of prostatic temperature profiles in 6 patients undergoing TR, TU, and combined TR-TU hyperthermia.
• Application of different phase relationships between TR and TU microwave antennas during combined treatments.
• Comparison of experimental results with computer simulations of microwave heating patterns.

Main Results:

• Combined TR and TU hyperthermia, with specific phase relationships, achieved higher temperatures in the prostate center than on applicator surfaces.
• Temperature profiles were modifiable by adjusting the phase relationships between the antennas.
• Measured temperature profiles aligned with computer simulation predictions.

Conclusions:

• Combined transrectal and transurethral microwave hyperthermia offers a method to enhance heating in the prostate center.
• Phase steering of microwave applicators provides a means to control and optimize prostatic heating patterns.
• This combined approach may be suitable for Phase I-II clinical trials in locally advanced prostate cancer patients.