New research on locoregional heat therapy

Research on locoregional heat therapy: Japanese Toyama University launches oncothermia and cancer studies

03/14/2015

Toyama University in Japan starts a research project on oncothermia in 2015. This specific locoregional special form of hyperthermia is being studied for its effect on malignant tumors in five medical specialties: gastroenterology, gynecology, neurology, pulmonology and orthopedics. The overall scientific leadership is headed by Prof. Masahiko Kanamori of the Department of Human Sciences, Orthopedic Surgery and Oncology.

At the start of the project, Prof. dr. András Szász, founder of oncothermia, in his guest lecture also on the many years of experience of Japanese physicians with the hyperthermia and their exploration. The first studies of the Hyperthermia Study Group date from 1978. The Japanese Society of Hyperthermic Oncology (JSHO) was founded in 1984. Toyama University recently published a study on over-heating cell death: “Molecular mechanisms of hyperthermia-induced apoptosis enhanced by docosahexaenoic acid: implication for cancer therapy.“ In May, Japanese researchers described how the number of free oxygen radicals in cancer cells increases during hyperthermia treatment. This increased self-production could destroy this cancer cell or interfere with its function.

Particular attention is paid in Japan to the most fatal cancer form of lung cancer. Here, researchers also rely on complementary medical solutions. They hope that the combination of hyperthermia and chemo- and radiotherapy will optimize the overall therapy. This could happen if, for example, lung cancer cells react poorly to chemo alone because of their poor blood supply. (Re-irradiation plus regional hyperthermia for recurrent non-small cell lung cancer: A potential modality for inducing long-term survival in selected patients.) Szász refers here to the dual goal of hyperthermia as a non-invasive application On the other hand, tumor cells in a complementary medicine become more sensitive to conventional treatment with radiation and drugs.When hyperthermia works at 42 degrees Celsius, oncothermia occurs at 38 degrees with the aim of (self-) destruction of tumor cells the local applicability (selection at the cellular level), locoregional electrohyperthermia is particularly suitable for the treatment of surface or lower tumors and metastases, and this local hyperthermia - combined with chemotherapy - aims to complement conventional medicine as part of an integrative oncology Often becomes It complements traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) methods such as acupuncture, reiki, massage, meditation, yoga, tai chi. (Pm)

Picture: Andrea Damm