Hyperthermia: Are you a health professional? - CancerChoices



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.

Are you a health professional?

This section does not replicate the other information on this topic but provides additional details or context most relevant to professionals.

Clinical practice guidelines for professionals

Eight recommendations are presented in this practice guideline:

  1. For patients with newly diagnosed stage III primary epithelial ovarian or fallopian tube carcinoma, or primary peritoneal carcinoma, HIPEC should be considered for those with at least stable disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy at the time that interval cytoreductive surgery (CRS) (if complete) or optimal cytoreduction is achieved. There is insufficient evidence to recommend the addition of HIPEC when primary CRS is performed for patients with newly diagnosed advanced primary epithelial ovarian or fallopian tube carcinoma, or primary peritoneal carcinoma, outside of a clinical trial.
  2. There is insufficient evidence to recommend HIPEC with CRS in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer outside the context of a clinical trial.
  3. There is insufficient evidence to recommend HIPEC with CRS in patients with peritoneal colorectal carcinomatosis outside the context of a clinical trial.
  4. There is insufficient evidence to recommend HIPEC with CRS for the prevention of peritoneal carcinomatosis in colorectal cancer outside the context of a clinical trial; however, HIPEC using oxaliplatin is not recommended.
  5. There is insufficient evidence to recommend HIPEC with CRS for the treatment of gastric peritoneal carcinomatosis outside the context of a clinical trial.
  6. There is insufficient evidence to recommend HIPEC with CRS for the prevention of gastric peritoneal carcinomatosis outside the context of a clinical trial.
  7. There is insufficient evidence to recommend HIPEC with CRS as a standard of care in patients with malignant peritoneal mesothelioma; however, patients should be referred to HIPEC specialty centres for assessment for treatment as part of an ongoing research protocol.
  8. There is insufficient evidence to recommend HIPEC with CRS as a standard of care in patients with disseminated mucinous neoplasm in the appendix; however, patients should be referred to HIPEC specialty centres for assessment for treatment as part of an ongoing research protocol.

Chinese expert consensus 2016

Chinese expert consensus on cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for peritoneal malignancies ›

This Chinese expert consensus summarizes the mechanism of cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy to treat peritoneal carcinomatosis and its clinical efficacy in gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pseudomyxoma peritonei, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, and peritoneal sarcoma. Furthermore, a clinical pathway of CRS + HIPEC to treat peritoneal carcinomatosis has also been formulated.

Modes of action

“Hyperthermia amplifies immune responses in the body against cancer while decreasing the immune suppression and immune escape of cancer. It also shows that hyperthermia inhibits the repair of damaged cancer cells after chemotherapy or radiotherapy.”1Yagawa Y, Tanigawa K, Yamamoto M. Cancer immunity and therapy using hyperthermia with immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Journal of Cancer Metastasis and Treatment. 2017;3:218-230.

“The mechanism by which heat sensitizes cells for cDDP action seems to be the sum of multiple factors, which comprise heat effects on accumulation, adduct formation and adduct processing.”2Hettinga JV, Lemstra W et al. Mechanism of hyperthermic potentiation of cisplatin action in cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant tumour cells. British Journal of Cancer. 1997;75(12):1735-43.

Helpful links for professionals

Crezee H, van Leeuwen CM et al. Thermoradiotherapy planning: integration in routine clinical practice. International Journal Hyperthermia. 2016;32(1):41-9.

Anttinen M, Yli-Pietilä E et al. Histopathological evaluation of prostate specimens after thermal ablation may be confounded by the presence of thermally-fixed cells. International Journal of Hyperthermia. 2019;36(1):915-925. 

Keep reading about hyperthermia

Authors

Nancy Hepp, MS

Lead Researcher
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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.

Nancy Hepp, MS Lead Researcher

Andrew Jackson, ND

Research Associate
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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.

Andrew Jackson, ND Research Associate

Reviewers

Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN

Manager at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute and CancerChoices Clinical Consultant
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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.”  

 

Susan Yaguda, MSN, RN Manager at Atrium Health’s Levine Cancer Institute and CancerChoices Clinical Consultant

Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO

Co-Founder and Medical Director of Integrated Health Clinic
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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.

Gurdev Parmar, ND, FABNO Co-Founder and Medical Director of Integrated Health Clinic

Last update: December 3, 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.

Our staff have no financial conflicts of interest to declare. We receive no funds from any manufacturers or retailers gaining financial profit by promoting or discouraging therapies mentioned on this site.

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