The National Cancer Institute notes that research has shown that high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with minimal injury to normal tissues. Hyperthermia is a treatment in which cancer cells are exposed to high temperatures. The technique uses various energy sources to damage or destroy cancer cells at temperatures generally around 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Hyperthermia is most often used alongside other cancer therapies, and is classified into local, regional, and whole-body hyperthermia.
Local Hyperthermia
Local hyperthermia treatment encompasses three approaches: external, intraluminal, and interstitial, all of which focus on a small, well-defined area. The heat source for local hyperthermia includes microwaves, ultrasound, and high-energy radio waves called radiofrequency waves. External hyperthermia targets cancer cells just below the skin and doesn't require probes or needles. Intraluminal and interstitial hyperthermia targets cancers within or near body cavities or deep within the body, such as the brain, respectively. Both of these techniques employ the use of probes and needles inserted into the body to deliver heat directly to the cancer cells, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Regional Hyperthermia
Regional hyperthermia covers larger areas of the body, such as organs, cavities, and limbs, and includes three approaches: deep tissue, regional perfusion, and continuous hyperthermic peritoneal perfusion (CHPP). Deep tissue hyperthermia primarily treats cervical and bladder cancer using microwave or radio waves as the source of heat. Regional perfusion is mostly used for sarcomas and melanomas of the arms and legs, but sometimes it is used for liver and lung cancer. It involves removing blood from the body, heating it, and then pumping the heated blood back into the body. Non-cancerous cells can tolerate higher temperatures than cancerous cells. CHPP treatment is designed for cancers of the peritoneal cavity, which includes the abdomen and intestines, stomach, and liver. In this technique, heated anticancer drugs are injected into the blood flow of the peritoneal cavity, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Whole-body Hyperthermia
Metastatic cancer is defined as cancer that has spread from one area of the body to another. Whole-body hyperthermia is designed for use in conjunction with other therapies for metastatic cancer. The treatment involves increasing an individual's body temperature to approximately 107 to 108 degrees Fahrenheit using heating blankets or thermal chambers. This weakens and damages cancer cells, increasing the effectiveness of chemotherapy and radiation, according to the National Cancer Institute.
