Abstract: Concomitant radiotherapy and hyperthermia for primary carcinoma of the vagina: A cohort study

Objective

To evaluate the supplementary value of adding hyperthermia to radiotherapy in patients with primary vaginal cancer.

Study design

Cohort of 44 patients diagnosed with primary vaginal cancer between 1990 and 2002 was assessed. Survival rates and median survival of patients with primary vaginal cancer undergoing radiotherapy with and without hyperthermia were compared. Hyperthermia was solely added to radiotherapy in case of a tumor size >4 cm in diameter for FIGO stage III disease.

Results

The calculated overall 5-year survival of primary vaginal cancer was 63%. In comparison to histologic high grade tumors, higher survival rates for histologic low grade tumors were calculated. For FIGO stage III of disease, the addition of hyperthermia to radiotherapy for tumors >4 cm in diameter resulted similar survival rates and median survival when compared to those achieved by radiotherapy as monotherapy in tumors of <4 cm in diameter.

Conclusions

The addition of hyperthermia to radiotherapy might result in better survival rates in primary vaginal cancer for tumors >4 cm in diameter. The supplementary effect of hyperthermia to radiotherapy may be a feasible and beneficial approach in the treatment of vaginal cancer.

Authors

Aktas M, de Jong D, Nuyttens JJ, van der Zee J, Wielheesen DHM, Batman E, Burger CW, Ansink AC.

Study Link

Concomitant radiotherapy and hyperthermia for primary carcinoma of the vagina: A cohort study.
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology 2007;133(1):100-4.

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Introduction to Pyrexar Family of Hyperthermia systems. 2 page full color.  Original available upon request for translation.

Salt Lake City, UT– Pyrexar Medical, leaders in thermal therapy systems, will be exhibiting at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting held in San Antonio’s Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center on October 18-20,2015.

Pyrexar will showcase their line of superficial, interstitial and deep regional hyperthermia systems for the treatment of cancer. Clinical studies confirm that hyperthermia added to radiotherapy boosts effective dose and increases response rate without any cumulative damage to healthy tissues. Thermal Therapy is one of the most important new cancer therapies on the market and it is under-represented in the U.S.  Pyrexar will be the only manufacturer of this technology exhibiting at the show.

It has been a very big year for the newly formed Pyrexar. Since purchasing the assets from the 30-year-old device manufacturer BSD Medical, the company has experienced phenomenal growth. This growth coincides with important clinical findings supporting the use of thermal therapy, aka hyperthermia, to treat cancer. The most recent peer review (published in Cancer Treatment Reviews) of 38 clinical studies, including cancers of the bladder, breast, cervical, esophageal, head & neck, pediatric tumors, rectal and soft tissue sarcoma, concludes that adding hyperthermia to traditional cancer treatment improves outcomes by an average of 1.8.

“There is no better time to talk about the benefits of thermal therapy than now”, says Mark Falkowski, CEO at Pyrexar Medical.  “We are seeing an improvement in outcomes by adding a pain-free, harm-free treatment protocol to the standard of care.  Why wouldn’t you give that to a loved one if it could mean more time.” Pyrexar will be launching its #OneMoreYear campaign at the show, challenging everyone to think about what they would do if given one more year.

You can find Pyrexar at booth 1753 at the ASTRO show October 18, 19 & 20 and later this year at RSNA Nov. 29th - Dec 4th in Chicago. To learn more about Pyrexar products and be part of the #OneMoreYear campaign, visit www.pyrexar.com.

ABOUT PYREXAR MEDICAL:
Pyrexar Medical is a pioneer and worldwide market leader in the development and manufacture of innovative and highly effective thermal therapy/hyperthermia treatment systems with established distribution and support networks around the world. PYREXAR HyperThermia (PYREXAR HT) treatments, proven in multiple clinical trials over the last 30 years, increase the effective dose of ionizing radiation in solid tumors up to 3X without increasing toxicity to healthy tissues.

The 32^nd Annual Meeting of the Society of Thermal Medicine (STM) concluded last week. The event was held at the happiest place on earth, on the edges of the Disney World resort complex in Orlando, Florida. Apropos locations as temperatures were well into the ’90s, for you thermal scientists around 35˚C, just shy of the hyperthermia therapeutic range.

The annual event attracts clinicians and researchers with exceptional guest speakers and abstracts presented by colleagues. One of those abstracts, “Integration of Deep Hyperthermia with MR Imaging,” presented by our own Paul Turner, CTO at Pyrexar Medical. From what I witnessed, this group is made up of dedicated, passionate professionals who care deeply about treating cancer. Even our after-hours, get-togethers were filled with lively debates on the best uses of thermal therapy — many conversations requiring a Ph.D., MD, and whiteboard to sufficiently follow.

Pyrexar was very proud to represent the BSD-500 and BSD-2000 product lines at the show, as they have become cornerstones of the thermal therapy modality. We felt very welcomed by the group and had the chance to meet some of the clinicians and researchers behind many of the successful clinical trials you can find on our website.

We are very excited for ICHO 2016 (International Congress of Hyperthermic Oncology) currently planned for New Orleans. According to Chris Lapine, Association Manager at Allen Press, next year's conference will host not only the Society of Thermal Medicine but also ESHO – European Society of Hyperthermic Oncology and the JSTM - Japanese Society for Thermal Medicine. This combination event only happens once every four years. 2016 is going to be a great event.

To learn more about STM visit their website www.thermaltherapy.org