[Magnetic thermotherapy of breast tumors: an experimental therapeutic approach]

The therapeutic strategy for breast cancer is changing, especially for early tumor stages with good prognosis. One potential minimally invasive therapy modality consists in the accumulation of a well-tolerated magnetic material (iron oxides, particularly magnetite) in the target tissue. By applying an alternating magnetic field, energy is selectively absorbed and induces harmful heating of the tumor. The present review deals with the essential conditions and parameters as studied in vitro and in vivo in animal experiments. Extrapolations to the clinical situation are discussed, in particular, the heating potential of the magnetic material, the selection of the magnetic field parameters, the occurrence of eddy currents, the generation of localized heating spots and the expected temperature rises and their effects on the tumor area.