Use of whole body hyperthermia as a method to heat inaccessible tumours uniformly: a phase III trial in canine brain masses

• Published in: International journal of hyperthermia Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 383 - 398
• Main Authors: THRALL, D. E, LARUE, S. M, CASE, B. C, DEWHIRST, M. W, GILLETTE, E. L, POWERS, B. E, PAGE, R. L, JOHNSON, J, GEORGE, S. L, KORNEGAY, J. N, MCENTEE, M. C, LEVESQUE, D. C, SMITH, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Informa UK Ltd 1999; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Brain Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Brain Neoplasms - therapy; Brain Neoplasms - veterinary; Combined Modality Therapy; Dog Diseases - radiotherapy; Dog Diseases - therapy; Dogs; Hyperthermia, Induced - adverse effects; Hyperthermia;Whole Body Hyperthermia;Thermal Dose;Brain;Necrosis;Brain Tumour;Radiation; Induced hyperthermia. Cryotherapy; Medical sciences; Radiotherapy Dosage; Survival Analysis; Temperature; Treatment with physical agents; Treatment. General aspects; Tumors; Phase III trial; Fissipedia; Intracranial; Animal model; Carnivora; Nervous system diseases; Treatment efficiency; Malignant tumor; Radiotherapy; Cerebral disorder; Necrosis; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Animal; Central nervous system disease; Combined treatment; Dog; Induced hyperthermia
• ISSN: 0265-6736; 1464-5157
• DOI: 10.1080/026567399285576

In this study, whole body hyperthermia (WBH) was assessed as a means of heating intracranial tumours uniformly. Twenty-five dogs received radiation therapy and 20 the combination of radiation and WBH. Total radiation dose was randomly assigned and was either 44, 48, 52, 56 or 60Gy. Because of WBH toxicity, intercurrent disease or tumour progression, seven of the 45 dogs received less than the prescribed radiation dose. For WBH, the target rectal temperature was 42 C for 2h and three treatments were planned. In five of the 20 dogs randomized to receive WBH, only one WBH treatment was given because of toxicity. WBH toxicity was severe in six dogs, and resulted in death or interruption in treatment. Most tumours did not undergo a complete response, making it impossible to differentiate tumour recurrence from brain necrosis as a cause of progressive neuropathy. Therefore, survival was the major study endpoint. There was no survival difference between groups. One-year survival probability (95% CI) for dogs receiving radiation therapy alone was 0.44 (0.25, 0.63) versus 0.40 (0.19, 0.63) for dogs receiving radiation and WBH. There was no difference in the incidence of brain necrosis in the two treatment groups. Results suggest that use of WBH alone to increase the temperature of intracranial tumours as a means to improve radiation therapy outcome is not a successful strategy.