[Clinical effects of total-body hyperthermia combined with anticancer chemotherapy for far-advanced cancer]

We treated 27 patients with far-advanced cancer with extracorporeally induced total-body hyperthermia combined with anticancer chemotherapy (TBHC). All of them under went unsuccessful anticancer chemotherapy. Excluding 7 patients who could not be evaluated, a partial response was obtained in 7 of 20 patients (35%). Considering that the patients in our series were in the terminal stage of cancer, our results are encouraging. However, despite the regression of the mass in some patients, the survival time after TBHC was not always prolonged. A characteristic complication of TBHC was the weakness of the muscles in the lower extremities. The occurrence of muscle weakness could be prevented by administration of phosphate. To improve the therapeutic effects of TBHC, there are some problems to be solved. In combined anticancer chemotherapy, the selection of anticancer drugs and the timing of their administration are of importance. Thus, the optimal heating method and the combined anticancer chemotherapy are the areas requiring further study to determine the clinical efficacy of TBHC in patients.