[Introduction to hyperthermia therapy of cancer--its rationale and current research trends]

Attempts to treat malignancies by elevating body temperature a few degrees above norm go back many years historically. However, hyperthermia revives recently on the basis of modern biological studies in vitro and in vivo during the last two decades. Promising results have been obtained in several pilot clinical studies using heat alone or combined with radiation and drugs. Biological rationales of hyperthermia and current status of fundamental and clinical studies were reviewed with special reference to the technical and biological problems to be solved prior to routine clinical use of hyperthermia in cancer therapy.