Recurrent malignant glioma treated with Oncothermia

Recurrent malignant glioma treated with Oncothermia

Through an observational retrospective clinical study, the Onco-Ematology Department of “Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord” in Italy evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of Oncothermia (Electro-hyperthermia) for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma.

Method

This is a retrospective observational clinical study. Patients, diagnosed with malignant glioma, experienced a previous failure with chemotherapy and radiotherapy based on temozolamide. Then, they were told a treatment with Oncothermia (Electro-Hyperthermia).

Oncothermia was performed with short radio waves of 13.56 MHz. The surface temperature of the skin was maintained at 26 ° C. Likewise, the applied power ranged between 40 and 150 watts and the average equivalent temperature calculated in the tumors was above 40 ° C, for more than 90% of the duration of the treatment (20-60 minutes gradually).

Result

Of the 24 patients who were part of the study, 19 (79%) had glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), of which 13 were grade 1-3 and 6 grade 4. The remaining patients (21%) had astrocytoma.

The analysis of tumor response performed two months after the application of Oncotermia (Electro-Hyperthermia), showed the following results:

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  • 2 patients (8%) experienced a complete remission
  • 5 patients (21%) had a partial remission.
  • The average duration of the response was 16 months (range 6-120).

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The median survival of the entire study population was 19.5 months (range 2-156), with 55% survival rate per year and 15% at two years.

In conclusion, the treatment of Oncothermia (Electro-Hyperthermia) seems to have promising efficacy in adults with recurrent malignant glioma.

You can consult the study in the following link.

If you wish, you can find more information about Gliomas treated with Oncotermia on our website.

Oncothermia in the treatment of head and neck cancer

Oncothermia in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Oncothermia treatment applied in conjunction with radiation or chemotherapy can improve efficacy and increase overall and disease-free survival.

In a recent study published by the Department of Radiation, Oncology at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, India, led by Dr. Balabhai, assesses the effects of Oncothermia in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy.

From a retrospective analysis of patients who received paclitaxel or cisplatin together with radical radiation and weekly sessions of Oncothermia, spectacular survival was obtained in advanced head and neck cancer. Similarly, a randomized trial to assess the role of HT with radiation therapy has shown a statistically significant improvement.

Due to high tobacco use, head and neck cancers constitute a significant burden of all cancers in Indian men.

Method

Patients were randomized to receive radiotherapy (RT) alone (control group), 26 patients, or radiation with Oncothermia (RT + ONC) (trial group), 28 patients.

The mean age of the patients in the control group was 58.42 years (45-76 years) and in the test group it was 57.71 years (31-78 years).

Patients in both groups received radiation up to a total dose of 70 Gy in 7 weeks with conventional fractionation of 5 days a week, without treatment on weekends. On the other hand, patients in the trial group received weekly RF-based ONC in addition to RT. Twenty-one patients in the control group and twenty-two patients in the experimental group received more than 60 Gy.

Result

Initial response was assessed within 7-10 days after completion of treatment, based on clinical evaluation.

A complete response was observed in 11 of 26 (42.4%) patients in the radiation alone group, while 22 of 28 (78.6%) patients had a complete response in the ONC + RT group.

The difference between the mean survival times between the RT + ONC and RT groups was almost 100 days.

In conclusion

Oncothermia is a very powerful hypoxic cell sensitizer. Therefore, Oncothermia together with radiation is an ideal combination to follow. The present randomized study, supported by the Indian Council for Medical Research, has shown a survival benefit from adding Oncothermia to radical radiation therapy.

In conclusion, both the randomized trial and the retrospective data analysis demonstrate a significant improvement in survival due to the addition of Oncothermia.

More information

Study published in the Oncothermia Journal, Volume 10, June 2014. To access the full study, you can consult the following link.

If you wish to expand the information regarding Oncotermia applied to cancers, you can visit the following link.