ABSTRACT
Hyperthermia is arousing intense interest as a treatment modality for cancer. Several important biological questions must be answered before clinical trials of whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) can be properly designed. The role of the inflammatory response as a possible mediator of hyperthermic tumor cell killing is suggested by the work of W. R. Coley, since the injected bacterial extracts stimulated an inflammatory reaction. Several reports of the effects of whole-body hyperthermia on immunological parameters have been published. There is a significant therapeutic potential for combining hyperthermia with chemotherapeutic drugs and interferon. Systemic hyperthermia has been added to the armamentarium of the oncologist at several cancer centers. While surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have established their merits, WBH remains controversial. WBH can only establish a recognized position as a systemic anticancer therapy when a new methodology undergoes rigorous multi-institutional trials.
