This volume summarizes clinical practice and the results achieved with combined thermoradiotherapy and thermochemotherapy for tumors of the brain, breast, chest wall, head and neck, esophagus, upper and lower abdomen, genitourinary tract, soft tissues and eye, in both adults and children. Special applications, such as intracavitary, interstitial, intraoperative and whole-body hyperthermia, are addressed in detail. Multicenter trials and data analysis receive extensive consideration.

Klappentext

Hyperthermia has been found to be of great benefit in combination with radiation therapy or chemotherapy in the management of patients with difficult and com­ plicated tumor problems. It has been demonstrated to increase the efficacy of ionizing radiation when used locally but also has been of help in combination with systemic chemotherapy where hyperthermia is carried out to the total body. Triple modality (thermo-chemo-radiotherapy) or other treatment combinations have not been fully evaluated and may demonstrate extended clinical applications in the future. Problems remain with regard to maximizing the effects of hyperthermia as they are influenced by a variety of external and intrinsic factors including bloodflow, microenvironment etc. While the previous volume has summarized more theoretical aspects of hyper­ thermia, i.e. biology, physiology and physics, the present volume compiles the current knowledge relative to the clinical applications of hyperthermia in combina­ tion with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, providing a comprehensive over­ view of its use in cancer management.

Inhalt

Clinical Applications of Hyperthermia.- 1 Clinical Rationale for Thermoradiotherapy.- 2 Clinical Rationale for Thermochemotherapy.- 3 Thermoradiotherapy for Advanced and Recurrent Breast Tumors.- 4 Thermoradiotherapy for Head and Neck Tumors.- 5 Thermoradiotherapy of Malignant Melanoma.- 6 Thermoradiotherapy combined with Chemotherapy for Esophageal Tumors.- 7 Thermoradiotherapy for Upper Abdominal Tumors.- 8 Thermoradiotherapy for Tumors of the Lower Gastrointestinal Tract.- 9 Thermoradiotherapy for Genitourinary and Gynecological Tumors.- 10 Thermoradiotherapy of Uterine Carcinoma.- 11 Thermoradiotherapy and Thermochemotherapy for Sarcomas.- 12 Thermoradiotherapy for Brain Tumors.- 13 Thermoradiotherapy for Eye Tumors.- 14 Thermoradiotherapy and Thermochemotherapy for Pediatric Tumors.- 15 Clinical Practice of Interstitial Thermoradiotherapy.- 16 Clinical Practice of Intracavitary Thermoradiotherapy.- 17 Clinical Practice of Intraoperative Thermoradiotherapy.- 18 Clinical Practice of Whole-Body Hyperthermia: New Directions.- 19 Clinical Practice of Hyperthermic Extremity Perfusion in Combination with Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy.- Multicenter Trials and Future Clinical Research.- 20 Prognostic Factors in Thermoradiotherapy Clinical Trials.- 21 Considerations for Hyperthermia Clinical Trials Design.- 22 Review of Biostatistical Methods and Interpretation of Hyperthermia Clinical Trials.- 23 Standardized Thermoradiotherapy Treatment Documentation.- 24 Appendix: Tabulation of Parameters for Hyperthermic Data Evaluation.- List of Contributors.- of Volume 1 (Biology, Physiology, Physics).