[Clinical results and problems of total-body hyperthermia]

The clinical results and problems of extracorporeally-induced total-body hyperthermia (TBHT) for recurrent cancer were presented. A total of 105 hyperthermic treatments were performed in 38 patients who had had unsuccessful conventional systemic anticancer chemotherapy. Partial response was observed in 10 of 29 evaluable patients (37%). In analysing the anticancer effects of TBHT according to cancer site, a high efficacy was observed in patients with their main tumor in the lung, liver and lymph nodes. The anticancer effects were most enhanced when TBHT was performed in combination with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) and 5-fluorouracil. In order to augment the anticancer effects of TBHT, the choice of combined agent(s) and administration timing are important. A useful method for determining the thermochemosensitivity of individual cancer cells to agents selected for drug treatment is the human tumor stem cell assay. Further, the usefulness of angiotensin II-induced hypertensive chemotherapy during TBHT for augmenting selective drug delivery to cancer tissues is stressed.