The Future of Oncology - Harnessing the Power of Heat to Fight Cancer

What is Next-Gen Hyperthermia (HT) Cancer Therapy?

Portland Clinic of Holistic Health is now using advanced Hyperthermia treatment for our cancer patients. This technique is not new but has had extreme advances in its viability over the last ten years. The life-saving potential of tumor heating has long been proven, backed by extensive scientific research and hundreds of randomized trials, including over 40 phase III studies, demonstrating its potent efficacy in cancer treatment. Yet, despite these undeniable benefits, traditional hyperthermia equipment has faced significant barriers—bulky, cumbersome machines, prolonged procedures, exorbitant costs, and the persistent challenge of achieving optimal tumor temperatures above 43°C (110°F) without damaging the skin.

Enter the Thermofield® Deep Tissue Heating System: a revolutionary breakthrough designed to overcome these limitations and transform cancer care. The Thermofield® System utilizes cutting-edge technology to deliver high-frequency electromagnetic energy deep into biological tissues through advanced applicators.

This energy induces molecular friction, precisely heating tumors to therapeutic temperatures between 42°C and 46°C (108°F and 115°F). This process destroys cancer cells while preserving the integrity of healthy surrounding tissues.

By making tumor heating safer, more efficient, and easier to administer, the Thermofield® System redefines what’s possible in cancer therapy. It offers hope to countless patients and positions itself as a game-changer in the ongoing fight against cancer. The future of hyperthermia is here, and with it, the promise of more effective and accessible treatment for cancer patients everywhere.

Benefits of Nex-Gen Hyperthermia Therapy.

Minimal risk of toxicity – Out of over 100,000 treatments administered, the only reported adverse reaction was mild skin erythema in a small number of cases.

Problems Addressed

• Adjuvant treatment for solid tumors
• Cancer pain

Mechanisms of Action for Cancer

• Increased blood flow delivers more drugs in and around the tumor [1]
• Hyperthermia inhibits the repair of DNA damage caused by radiation and chemotherapy [2]
• Increases cytotoxicity of chemotherapy
• Protein Denaturation—Heating causes cellular proteins to denature, impairing cellular function and eventually leading to cell death [1]
• Membrane Damage - Heat can disrupt the integrity of the cellular membrane, causing leakage of vital cellular contents and increasing cell permeability [3]
• Blood Vessel Permeability - Hyperthermia increases the permeability of blood vessels in tumors, making it easier for anticancer agents to penetrate and accumulate in the tumor tissue [3]
• Directly kills cancer stem-like cells at higher temperatures [1]
• Damages tumor vasculature at higher temperatures [4]
• Immune Activation: Hyperthermia can stimulate the immune system by releasing damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from dying tumor cells, enhancing immune cells’ recognition of cancer cells [5]
• Increased Antigen Presentation: Heat shock can increase the expression of antigens on the surface of cancer cells, making them more recognizable to immune cells like cytotoxic T lymphocytes [6]
• Drug-free pain mitigation through multiple mechanisms of action [7]

The Benefits of Adding Hyperthermia to Chemotherapy

Adding hyperthermia to chemotherapy offers several significant benefits, enhancing the overall effectiveness of cancer treatment. These benefits include:

• Increased Sensitivity of Cancer Cells: Hyperthermia makes cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy by disrupting their repair mechanisms and weakening their defenses, leading to increased cell death [29].

• Enhanced Drug Delivery: The heat from hyperthermia improves blood flow in the tumor, allowing better delivery of chemotherapy drugs to the cancer cells and increasing their local concentration [30].

• Targeted Tumor Destruction: Hyperthermia primarily affects cancer cells, which are more heat-sensitive than normal cells. Leading to more targeted tumor destruction without damaging collateral tissues [30].

• Reduction in Drug Resistance: Hyperthermia can overcome some forms of chemotherapy resistance in cancer cells, making previously resistant tumors more responsive to treatment [4].

• Stimulation of the Immune System: Hyperthermia can enhance the immune system's response by releasing heat shock proteins and tumor antigens, improving immune recognition and attacking cancer cells [13].

• Synergistic Effects: The combination of hyperthermia and chemotherapy has a synergistic effect, leading to better outcomes regarding tumor shrinkage and survival rates [31].

These combined effects make hyperthermia a valuable adjunct to chemotherapy in cancer treatment, particularly for hard-to-treat or resistant tumors.

Clinical Results of Combining Chemotherapy with Hyperthermia

Dr. Rolf Issels conducted the most extensive study on the effects of combining neoadjuvant chemotherapy with hyperthermia, published in JAMA Oncology in 2018. This randomized study involved 341 patients with soft tissue sarcomas and provided strong evidence that adding hyperthermia to chemotherapy significantly improves overall survival rates compared to chemotherapy alone.

Key Findings from the Study:

• Median local progression-free survival was 67.3 months in the hyperthermia group vs. 29.2 months in the chemotherapy-only group.
• Median disease-free survival was 33.3 months with hyperthermia vs. 17.4 months without. 
• Median overall survival was 15.4 years with hyperthermia vs. 6.2 years without, with 5-year survival rates of 62.7% vs. 51.3% and 10-year survival rates of 52.6% vs. 42.7%.

The traditional hyperthermia method employed in this study is not only demanding in terms of labor but also very time-consuming, limiting patients to just eight treatments with an average tumor temperature of 42°C. In stark contrast, the Thermofield system offers a groundbreaking alternative, capable of safely delivering thermal doses 8 to 16 times higher (45°C-46°C). Its notable affordability and ease of use can facilitate regular, ongoing heat treatments for years if necessary. This feature can be vital in managing the disease and lowering the risk of cancer progression, making the Thermofield system a much more effective and sustainable long-term option.

If you're curious whether Hyperthermia Cancer Therapy might be the right choice for you or a loved one, we encourage you to contact the Portland Clinic of Holistic Health. Our dedicated team is here to provide personalized guidance, answer your questions, and help you explore this innovative therapy as part of a comprehensive approach to your health. Contact us today to take the first step toward empowering your healing journey.

Cited Works

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