Localized hyperthermia in the central nervous system

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1986

OSTI ID:6786327

Lyons, Jr, B E

A new localized treatment modality for malignant brain tumors is hyperthermia. Primary brain tumors are ideally suited to localized therapies because they are initially found in a single area of the brain and local recurrence is the general rule, despite aggressive multimodality treatment. The potential of hyperthermia is based on the rationale that these tumors contain a heterogeneous anaplastic cell population. In contrast to radiation and chemotherapy, hyperthermia is equally effective against both hypoxic and oxygenated cells. Moreover, higher temperatures result in tissues that have an inability to cool themselves through perfusion. The feasibility of localized heating in normal and malignant brain tissue was investigated using external ultrasound and microwave applicators and an interstitial microwave antenna array. The ability to generate uniform temperature distributions using these systems was tested in thermal dosimetry studies. Lesion threshold studies were performed to define the acute and chronic histopathological effects of localized hyperthermia in normal brain tissue. Results demonstrated that these techniques can effectively heat clinically relevant volumes of brain tissue to therapeutic temperatures in an extremely controlled and precise manner. Thresholds for cytological damage have been defined over a range of time/temperature parameters. Various physical and physiological factors within the central nervous system as they relate to temperature exposure have also been defined. These feasibility and toxicity studies have led to the initiation of Phase I clinical trials of hyperthermia in combination with radiation therapy at several institutions.

• Research Organization: Stanford Univ., CA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6786327
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
560200* -- Thermal Effects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
BODY
BODY TEMPERATURE
BRAIN
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CHEMOTHERAPY
DISEASES
HYPERTHERMIA
MEDICINE
NEOPLASMS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANS
RADIOLOGY
RADIOTHERAPY
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THERAPY
TOXICITY
TUMOR CELLS