Optimization of pre-, intra- and postoperative hyperthermic treatment in inoperable lower bowel and liver tumors

Traditional therapies in malignant tumors are often inadequate, either because the tumors aren not responsive or because the tolerance dosage has little effect. With this in mind, our study examined advanced tumors of the lower bowel and liver. We evaluated the results of 10 cases of anorectal epidermoid cancer. We treated these patients with radiofrequency hyperthermia, since previous radiotherapy was unsuccessful. The patients had significant tumor remission, along with a 'free-of-disease' follow-up of 10 months. In this paper, we also report the positive response in 10 cases of multifocal liver tumors. All these tumors had metastasized from gastrointestinal sites and were not responsive to traditional therapies. These patients had remission with a follow-up of 6 months. In the first cases, we associated 'low-dose' radiotherapy with hyperthermia; in the latter cases, we induced chemoembolization and also associated it with hyperthermia. We emphasize these associations and suggest the very important role of intraoperative hyperthermia in absolutely inoperable cases or in those cases previously diagnosed as unresectable.