[Experiments on systemic thermochemotherapy using small animals]

As most cancers refractory to conventional therapy are systemic diseases, the treatment of widespread metastasis with systemic thermochemotherapy is an inherently attractive approach. However, reports of animal experiments clearly showing its effectiveness in terms of prolongation of mean survival time are scanty. In a review of experimental results carried out by the author and his collaborators on a murine tumor model, emphasis was given to the necessity of exploring a way to intensify the extent of heating. The advantage of using the thermotolerance of the host animal was suggested, together with the possibility of selectively protecting various target organs from the side effects of therapy.