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Updated: May 20, 2026
Magnetic-, Acoustic-, and Optical-Triple-Responsive Microbubbles for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Pothotothermal Combination Cancer Therapy
Published on: May 22, 2020
[Treatment of brain tumor patients: hyperthermia, hyperbaric oxygenation, electric fields or nanoparticles]
1Abteilung Neuroonkologie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, INF 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Deutschland. michael.platten@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Abstract:
Despite considerable advancements in the therapy of malignant glioma in recent years with modern radiation and surgical techniques, alkylating and antiangiogenic chemotherapy, as well as molecular-based treatment decisions, treatment outcomes are mostly unsatisfactory. Understandably, patients often ask for experimental, sometimes unusual therapeutic modalities and this should be integrated into the clinical practice. In addition to experimental therapeutic approaches based on novel drugs, viral agents, immunotherapy and radiation approaches, experimental procedures of interest for patients particularly encompass mechanical approaches with the aim at physically altering the tumor tissue by temperature, oxygenation or magnetization. These mechanical procedures are based on intuitive concepts and promise fewer side effects than other experimental approaches. In addition, the requirements for approval by medical device regulations in terms of proof of efficacy are generally less stringent. As a consequence approaches, such as hyperbaric oxygenation, hyperthermia and electric fields, which are often heavily advertised and in part reimbursed by health insurances, have been used for many years, often by centers not specialized in the treatment of brain tumor patients, although sound data from prospective controlled clinical trials that determine which patients in which situation may benefit, are generally lacking. In this review we review these clinical therapeutic approaches.
Insights
Malignant glioma treatments remain unsatisfactory. This review examines experimental mechanical therapies like hyperthermia and oxygenation, often lacking robust clinical trial data for patient benefit.
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Experimental Therapeutics
- Biomedical Engineering
Context:
- Malignant glioma treatment outcomes are unsatisfactory despite advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
- Patients increasingly seek experimental and unusual therapeutic modalities, necessitating their integration into clinical practice.
- Mechanical approaches offer intuitive concepts for altering tumor tissue via temperature, oxygenation, or magnetization, potentially with fewer side effects.
Purpose:
- To review clinical therapeutic approaches for malignant glioma that physically alter tumor tissue.
- To critically evaluate experimental mechanical procedures, including hyperbaric oxygenation, hyperthermia, and electric fields.
- To highlight the need for prospective controlled clinical trials to determine patient-specific benefits and optimal application of these methods.
Summary:
- Despite progress, malignant glioma therapies yield poor outcomes, driving patient interest in experimental approaches.
- Mechanical therapies, altering tumor tissue through physical means (temperature, oxygenation, magnetization), are of particular patient interest due to intuitive concepts and perceived lower side effect profiles.
- Approaches like hyperbaric oxygenation, hyperthermia, and electric fields are used but often lack strong evidence from controlled trials regarding patient selection and efficacy.
Impact:
- This review provides a critical overview of experimental mechanical therapies for malignant glioma, informing clinicians and researchers.
- It underscores the gap between the use of certain experimental treatments and the availability of robust clinical evidence.
- The findings emphasize the need for rigorous evaluation of these therapies to ensure patient safety and optimize treatment strategies in neuro-oncology.
