Physicians, biologists and physicists present their recent work in the field of hyperthermia with regard to both its application and its combination with radiation and chemotherapy. Current technical possibilities, clinical management and major aspects of its use for superficial and deep-seated tumors are pointed out. The main topics discussed are: changes of metabolism and microcirculation under heat conditions, the biological interaction of heat with X-rays and several chemotherapeutic agents, and the most recent clinical data from different institutions on the combined application in the treatment of cancer.

Inhalt

Biological, Biophysical and Technical Concepts of Hyperthermia.- The Concept of Thermal Dose.- Aspects of Metabolic Change After Hyperthermia.- Hyaluronic Acid Degradation Mediated by Thiols and Effects of Hyperthermic Conditions.- Glutathione Level in Melanoma Cells and Tissue.- Changes of Plasma Acetate Levels in Whole-Body Hyperthermia.- Physiological Effects of Hyperthermia.- Hyperthermia-Induced Changes in Tumor Microcirculation.- Changes in Tumor Vasculature Under Fractionated Radiation -Hyperthermia Treatment.- Pathophysiology of Tumors in Hyperthermia.- Technical Aspects of Hyperthermia.- Advanced Technique in Localized Current Field Hyperthermia.- A 500-kHz Localized Current Field Hyperthermia System for Use with Ophthalmic Plaque Radiotherapy.- Simulation of Interstitial Microwave Hyperthermia Using the Finite Element Method.- Hyperthermia and Radiation:Biological and Clinical Studies.- Some Basic Effects in Cellular Thermobiology.- Growth, Cell Proliferation and Morphological Alterations of a Mouse Mammary Carcinoma After Exposure to X-Rays and Hyperthermia.- Analysis of Results in Neck Node Metastases from Tumors of the Head and Neck.- Two Versus Six Hyperthermia Treatments in Combination with Radical Irradiation for Fixed Metastatic Neck Nodes: Progress Report.- First Results After Hyperthermia Treatment with the BSD System in Essen.- Interstitial Radiotherapy Combined with Interstitial Hyperthermia in the Management of Recurrent Tumors.- Localized, Non-Invasive Deep Microwave Hyperthermia for the Treatment of Prostatic Tumors: The First 5 Years.- External Microwave Hyperthermia Combined with Radiation Therapy for Extensive Superficial Chest Wall Recurrences.- Microwave-Induced Hyperthermia and Radiotherapy in Human Superficial Tumors: Clinical Results with a Comparative Study of Combined Treatment Versus Radiotherapy Alone.- Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy: Biological and Clinical Studies.- Interaction of Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy.- Thermostability of Cytostatic Drugs in Vitro and Thermosensitivity of Cultured Human Lymphoblasts Against Cytostatic Drugs.- A Rapid in Vitro Assay for PredictingThermochemosensitivity of Human Cancer:Comparison with Clonogenic Assay.- The Cytotoxic and Bleomycin-Sensitizing Effect of Hyperthermia on Different Cell Lines.- Pilot Studies of Microwave-Induced Brain Hyperthermia and Systemic BCNU in a Rat Glioblastoma Model.- Pharmacokinetics of Methotrexate During Regional Hyperthermia in a Pig Model.- Summary of Recent Clinical Experience in Whole-Body Hyperthermia Combined with Chemotherapy.- Coagulation and Fibrinogenolysis During Whole-Body Hyperthermia.- Treatment of Superficial Neoplastic Lesions Using Hyperthermia, Radiotherapy, and Chemotherapy.- Clinical Experience in the Combination of Hyperthermia with Chemotherapy or Radiotherapy.- Combined Treatment of Advanced Bladder Carcinoma.- Experience with an Annular Phased Array Hyperthermia System in the Treatment of Advanced Recurrences of the Pelvis.- Regional Hyperthermia Combined with Systemic Chemotherapy in Advanced Abdominal and Pelvic Tumors: First Results of a Pilot Study Employing an Annular Phased Array Applicator.- Deep Microwave Hyperthermia for Metastatic Tumors of the Liver.- Future Trends in Heating Technology of Deep-Seated Tumors.- Percutaneous Placement of Catheters for Temperature Measurement During Hyperthermia.- CT-Guided Placement of Temperature Probes in Pulmonary Cancer.