[Treatment of lung cancer by total-body hyperthermia using an extracorporeal circuit]

Since far-advanced cancer shows extended infiltration into neighboring organs and/or metastasis to other organs, induction of total-body hyperthermia appears to be a reasonable treatment. The method of hyperthermia, which employs an extracorporeal circuit that incorporates a heat exchanger, facilitates the rapid heat induction and provides accurate temperature control. The most favorable antitumor effects were obtained for patients with lung cancer among miscellaneous cancer. Irrespective of whether the tumors were primary or secondary lesions or recurrences, favorable results were obtained in patients whose tumors were in the lung. The complication and mortality increased in proportion to the reduction of the performance status of patients before treatment. These findings indicate that total-body hyperthermia should be used as therapy for patients with primary or metastatic lung cancer and then on patients in generally good condition.