Hyperthermia
Many types and varieties of hyperthermia (heat treatment) are used in conventional cancer care, and some additional uses are being explored for improving survival and reducing risk of recurrence.
Hyperthermia at a glance
Hyperthermia is a type of treatment in which tumors or body tissues are heated as high as 113°F (45°C) to damage or kill cancer cells, sometimes with little or no harm to normal tissue. Many different techniques are used to create heat and introduce it to tumors and cancerous tissues. Treatment outcomes with some cancer types and hyperthermia therapies have been impressive, although application of hyperthermia is still regarded as experimental or even complementary in many situations. Hyperthermia is often used along with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and/or surgery.
Higher doses seem to be more effective for controlling several types of cancer, although they may also increase unwanted side effects. Hyperthermia has also been used successfully to reduce risk of recurrence and for clearing viruses that increase risk of primary cancer.
Hyperthermia is classified in three broad categories depending on how much tissue is heated:
- Local hyperthermia, in which only the tumor and perhaps some surrounding tissue are heated
- Regional hyperthermia, in which a part of the body, such as an organ, limb, or body cavity is heated
- Whole-body hyperthermia, in which the entire body is placed in a heated chamber or hot water bath or wrapped with heated blankets
CancerChoices ratings for hyperthermia
We rate hyperthermia on seven attributes, with 0 the lowest rating and 5 the highest. We rate the strength of the evidence supporting the use of hyperthermia for a medical benefit, such as improving treatment outcomes or managing side effects.
See how we evaluate and rate complementary therapies ›
Improving treatment outcomes
See MoreGood or modest evidence of benefit
- Good evidencesignificant effects in one large or several mid-sized and well-designed clinical studies (randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with an appropriate placebo or other strong comparison control or observational studies that control for confounds) (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of longer survival after chemotherapy, sometimes following surgery, among people with soft tissue sarcoma treated with regional hyperthermia
- Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better tumor response or survival among people with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with hyperthermia
- Modest evidence of better local control and greater complete metabolic response rate after chemoradiotherapy among people with locally advanced cervical cancer treated with modulated electro-hydrotherapy (mEHT)
- Modest evidence of better tumor response to radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy among people with advanced rectal cancer treated with local or regional hyperthermia
- Modest evidence of better tumor response after conventional treatment (surgery, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy) among people with advanced head, neck, or oral cancer treated with local or regional hyperthermia
- Modest evidence of higher response rates after radiotherapy among people with breast cancer treated with hyperthermia
Preliminary evidence of benefit
- Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of higher response rate and more complete remissions after low-dose radiotherapy among people with superficial recurrent malignant tumors treated with microwave-induced local hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of higher complete response rate after external beam radiation among people with painful bony metastasis from a variety of primary tumor types treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better rates of complete and partial remission and better overall response rates among people with advanced cancer as a whole treated with whole-body hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of higher rates of partial regression and stabilization and lower rate of progression after combined chemotherapy among people with breast cancer with multiple liver metastases treated with regional inductive moderate hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better tumor control among people with advanced carcinoma of the head and neck treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary and conflicting evidence of tumor response among people with malignant melanoma treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better survival among people with locally advanced pancreatic cancer treated with local or regional hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better survival among people with advanced stomach cancer treated with regional hyperthermia in addition to chemotherapy
- Preliminary evidence of tumor response, local control, or survival after conventional treatment among people with bladder cancer treated with local or regional hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of higher tumor response among people with relapsed glioblastoma multiforme and astrocytomas treated with modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT)
- Preliminary evidence of better tumor response and survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy among people with breast cancer treated with regional inductive moderate hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better cancer-specific survival after the first recurrence and a weak trend towards higher rates of downstaging and complete tumor response after chemoradiotherapy among people with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with radiofrequency hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better overall survival, local control, and colostomy-free survival after chemoradiotherapy among people with anal cancer treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of longer overall survival after radical gastrectomy among people with stomach (gastric) cancer treated with hyperthermic chemotherapy
- Preliminary evidence of better survival or treatment response after conventional treatment among people with cervical cancer treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of higher complete response rate and longer duration of local control after radiotherapy among people with cervical cancer treated with deep hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better 6-month local disease control after chemoradiotherapy among people with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix treated with modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT)
- Preliminary (somewhat conflicting) evidence of better response to conventional radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy among people with nasopharyngeal cancer treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of higher complete response rate and longer duration of local control after radiotherapy among people with bladder cancer, cervical cancer, or rectal cancer treated with deep hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better relapse-free survival after conventional treatment among people with high-risk localized prostate cancer treated with regional hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of higher tumor response after neoadjuvant chemotherapy among people with with high-risk soft-tissue sarcoma treated with regional hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of smaller tumor volume among people with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma treated with ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation
No evidence of an effect
- No evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on local control among people with advanced cervical cancer treated with interstitial hyperthermia
- No evidence of an effect on complete response, partial response, or stable disease among people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer treated with radiofrequency hyperthermia
Optimizing your body terrain
See More- Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of immune activation after neoadjuvanttherapy used before a main treatment, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy before surgery chemotherapy among people with soft-tissue sarcoma treated with regional hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of some higher markers of immune activation after surgery for colorectal cancer among people treated with fever-range whole-body hyperthermia
Managing side effects and promoting wellness
See More- Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of better scores on symptoms specific to nasopharyngeal carcinoma during and after chemoradiotherapy among people with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with non-invasive extracorporeal radiofrequency (ERF) hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of better cognitive function scores among people with cervical cancer and HIV treated with modulated electrohyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of less fatigue among people with cervical cancer and HIV treated with modulated electrohyperthermia
- No evidence of an effectoverall, one or more studies did not demonstrate that a treatment or intervention led to an expected outcome; this does not always mean that there is no effect in clinical practice, but that the studies may have been underpowered (too few participants) or poorly designed. Larger, well-designed studies provide more confidence in making assessments. on chemoradiotherapy toxicity among people with cervical cancer and HIV treated with modulated electrohyperthermia (mEHT)
Reducing cancer risk
See MoreModest evidence of benefit
- Modest evidencesignificant effects in at least three small but well-designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs), or one or more well-designed, mid-sized clinical studies of reasonably good quality (RCTs or observational studies), or several small studies aggregated into a meta-analysis (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of higher rate of clearance of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV)—a risk factor for gynecological cancer—among people treated with local hyperthermia, comparable to rates after cryotherapy or large loop excision of the transformation zone
- Modest evidence of lower risk of recurrence after conventional treatment among people with nasopharyngeal carcinoma or oral squamous cell carcinoma treated with hyperthermia
Preliminary evidence of benefit
- Preliminary evidencesignificant effects in small or poorly designed clinical studies OR conflicting results in adequate studies but a preponderance of evidence of an effect (this is the CancerChoices definition; other researchers and studies may define this differently) of longer recurrence-free survival after a complete transurethral resection of bladder tumor among people treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of lower risk of recurrence after chemoradiotherapy among people with anal cancer treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of lower risk of recurrence after radical gastrectomy among people with stomach (gastric) cancer treated with hyperthermic chemotherapy
- Preliminary and somewhat conflicting evidence of lower risk of recurrence among people with cervical cancer treated with hyperthermia
- Preliminary evidence of lower risk of recurrence among people with prostate cancer treated with higher doses of regional hyperthermia
Use by integrative oncology experts
See More- Used or mentioned in several (at least 4) of our program sources
- Not mentioned in integrative cancer clinical practice guidelines
Safety
See More- Generally safe, although some serious side effects are possible, including severe renal toxicity
- Caution and supervision are needed
Affordability and access
See More- Available with restrictions, such as a prescription.
- Hyperthermia should be administered by a health professional trained in its use.
- Moderately expensive (between $2000 and $5,000 US/treatment); total costs will depend on the number of treatments and whether costs are covered by insurance.
Keep reading about hyperthermia
Authors
Ms. Hepp is a researcher and communicator who has been writing and editing educational content on varied health topics for more than 20 years. She serves as lead researcher and writer for CancerChoices and also served as the first program manager. Her graduate work in research and cognitive psychology, her master’s degree in instructional design, and her certificate in web design have all guided her in writing and presenting information for a wide variety of audiences and uses. Nancy’s service as faculty development coordinator in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University also provided experience in medical research, plus insights into medical education and medical care from the professional’s perspective.
Andrew Jackson, ND, serves as a CancerChoices research associate. As a naturopathic physician practicing in Kirkland, Washington, he teaches critical evaluation of the medical literture at Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington. His great appreciation of scientific inquiry and the scientific process has led him to view research with a critical eye.
Reviewers
Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN
Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN, has been a nurse for nearly 40 years, working in a variety of healthcare settings. She currently works in Charlotte, North Carolina, at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute as the manager for Integrative Oncology and Cancer Survivorship. She works with a multidisciplinary team to deliver holistic, evidence-based support and education for patients and care partners at any point along the trajectory of cancer care. She completed the Integrative Oncology Scholars Program through the University of Michigan in 2020, is certified as an Integrative Health Coach through Duke Integrative Medicine and has a post-graduate certificate in Nursing Education from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Susan also was awarded the Planetree International Scholar’s Award in 2018 and was recognized by the Daisy Foundation for Nurse Leadership in 2021. Susan has a particular interest in empowering patients and care partners with knowledge to help drive informed decision making and educating nurses on the benefits of integrative care for patients and self-care. She has presented nationally and internationally on integrative oncology and nursing education.
She and her husband, Mark, have two adult children and a very spoiled foxhound. She enjoys hiking, knitting, cooking, and pickleball.
“As a frequent consumer of Beyond Conventional Cancer Therapies, and now CancerChoices, for both professional education and patient support, it is an honor to have the opportunity to engage with the dedicated team at CancerChoices to serve those impacted by this disease.”
Dr. Gurdev Parmar is co-founder and medical director of the largest naturopathic health care facility in Canada, the Integrated Health Clinic (IHC). He is licensed in both British Columbia, Canada, and Washington State, USA.
Dr. Parmar has launched the IHC Research Department with researchers and statisticians now on staff, with publishing patient outcomes on the horizon. He is also the residency director and primary teaching supervisor of a naturopathic oncology residency at IHC, a CNME-approved postdoctoral training facility for Bastyr University.
Dr. Parmar established locoregional hyperthermia treatment in Canada in 2009, and in 2018, he was nominated president of the International Clinical Hyperthermia Society (ICHS). He has served on numerous boards over the years, including an appointment to the OncANP Delphi Panel which has begun building consensus statements for the naturopathic oncology field, the first of which was published in Integrative Cancer Therapies.
Dr. Parmar writes and lectures internationally on a wide variety of topics, including clinical hyperthermia, the tumour microenvironment, and integrative cancer care. He has served on the editorial board of several medical journals and is the lead author and editor-in-chief of the Textbook of Naturopathic Oncology: A Desktop Guide of Integrative Cancer Care, as well as the Pearlz Clinical eBook Series. Dr. Parmar recently published a timely book, Arming the Immune System: The Incredible Power of Natural Immunity & the Fever Response.
Last update: April 11, 2024
Last full literature review: March 2023
We are grateful for research support from Ma Victoria Acuña.
CancerChoices provides information about integrative in cancer care, a patient-centered approach combining the best of conventional care, self care and evidence-informed complementary care in an integrated plan cancer care. We review complementaryin cancer care, complementary care involves the use of therapies intended to enhance or add to standard conventional treatments; examples include supplements, mind-body approaches such as yoga or psychosocial therapy, and acupuncture therapies and self-care lifestyle actions and behaviors that may impact cancer outcomes; examples include eating health-promoting foods, limiting alcohol, increasing physical activity, and managing stress practices to help patients and professionals explore and integrate the best combination of conventionalthe cancer care offered by conventionally trained physicians and most hospitals; examples are chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy and complementary therapies and practices for each person.
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