Medical news may be dominated by pandemic coverage, but cancer research still moves forward. We did a quick search on clinicaltrials.gov for trials using hyperthermia as an adjunct to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. The listing below is a summary of studies around the world.
HIPEC studies have not been included in this list. Listing facilities with Pyrexar hyperthermia systems is not a statement that those systems are used in the study, only that they exist at the facilities conducting the study. If you know of a study not included in the list, please let us know, and we would be happy to share it on our website.
Ivy-Lab Inc., established in 2008, specializes in the supply of medical devices in South Korea. The sales group has been very successful in placing the BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia system in hospitals all over the country.
According to CEO Michael Cha, "is to make the best cancer care available to everyone. We believe the radiative method of hyperthermia is the most efficient hyperthermia method in fighting cancer as it has been proven many times over. That is why we aim to spread the word of radiative hyperthermia to all South Korean doctors and specialists and create awareness in the country".
Ivy Lab has been extremely successful in the very competitive South Korean market; this position elevation as a master distributor ensures that we will continue to see dynamic growth in the region.
The Taipei Municipal Wan Fang Hospital has advanced its thermal oncology center's capability by adding a superficial hyperthermia treatment room alongside the existing deep regional hyperthermia suite. MWFH, managed by Taipei Medical University, is a 732 beds facility located in Taipei, Taiwan, and the country's first publicly owned and privately operated hospital.
"Out of a broad field of competitors, the cancer treatment team recognized Pyrexar as the manufacturer of the best hyperthermia medical equipment in the world," according to Dennis Lin, CEO of Hualong Biomed. Wan Fang established its Hyperthermia Treatment Center in 2016, installing a BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia system. Their team and patients have been looking forward to combining hyperthermia with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy with the new BSD-500 Superficial Hyperthermia system, knowing that its odd ratio can be more than twice, especially for breast cancer and head and neck cancer patients.
In cooperation with Hematology-Oncology, Radiation Oncology, General Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, and Oral Surgery departments, the Hyperthermia Treatment Center aims to benefit cancer patients, collect more clinical data and experience to promote this integrative cancer therapy. This is an important milestone in cancer treatment.
Special recognition to Ray Lauritzen, VP of CustomerCare at Pyrexar Medical. Ray arrived in Taiwan and was required to immediately enter the two-week quarantine for epidemic prevention before starting installation and training. Ray’s professionalism was formally recognized by the associate dean, professor, physician, nurses, medical physicists, radiation therapists, and case managers of the Cancer Treatment Center.
Image-Guided Thermal Therapy is shown to be highly consistent over various MRI platforms. Currently, there are five image-guided hyperthermia systems treating patients in Europe. A recent quality assurance validation study was published in the International Journal of Hyperthermia comparing heating patterns of the Sigma Eye-MR applicator among different models of MRI systems. See Full Article - "A multi-institution study: comparison of the heating patterns of five different MR-guided deep hyperthermia systems using an anthropomorphic phantom." Curto et al.
Using the five sites in comparison, the study found accuracy and continuity between the systems, no matter which imaging system was used. "These three MR systems from GE, Philips, and Siemens represent a growing family of OEM imaging systems proven compatible with the BSD-2000 3D/MR hyperthermia system." Says Jason Ellsworth, VP Engineering. "We continue to evaluate new imaging systems from various manufacturers as requested for new installations, focusing mainly on the 1.5T MR with a 60-70cm bore."
The BSD-2000 3D/MR Image-Guided Hyperthermia system uses data from MRI taken throughout the hyperthermia treatment to create a pinpoint temperature map. The data, when compared to the previous scan, is used to form a three-dimensional temperature map. "Essentially, every pixel on the screen represents a discrete changing temperature measurement," says Pyrexar CTO Paul Turner. "This results in tens of thousands of temperature data points in every slice taken."
By having a real-time image of the tumor site with a temperature overlay, the operator can ensure that the tumor is within the prescriptive target temperature threshold during the entire treatment. The heat zone's repositioning due to patient discomfort or patient movement can be retargeted with a touch of the screen.
Related Article: Quantitative, Multi-institutional Evaluation of MR Thermometry Accuracy for Deep-Pelvic MR-Hyperthermia Systems Operating in Multi-vendor MR-systems Using a New Anthropomorphic Phantom, by Sergio Curto, et al
Pyrexar Medical was represented at the 83rd China International Medical Equipment Fair (CMEF) in Shanghai, China. The CMEF, established in 1979, has become one of the world’s leading global integrated service platforms for medical device technologies.
While most large events have been moved to virtual, this event has been the largest in-person exposition in the medical field since the COVID-19 outbreak.
Representing our product line in China is Dailan based distributor and long-time hyperthermia advocate, Orientech, Co., Ltd.
Dario Rodrigues Ph.D. is an assistant professor and thermal oncology physicist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Rodrigues's medical specialty is the treatment of cancer using hyperthermia therapy in combination with radiation treatments. Hyperthermia is a thermal therapy technique administered by focusing radio and microwaves to generate a cellular heat response. As a physicist, he performs adjuvant hyperthermia treatments of pelvic, abdominal, and superficial tumors. He is also responsible for the treatment planning, thermal dosimetry, and quality assurance of the clinical hyperthermia equipment.
Dr. Rodrigues is also a talented researcher. At the recent COMSOL Conference, he presented his computer simulation results of a novel noninvasive brain applicator, which will pave the way to treat brain cancers using focused microwave hyperthermia.
Treating brain cancers, like glioblastoma multiforme, with hyperthermia and radiotherapy, is not new. Clinical studies, like "Survival benefit of hyperthermia in a prospective randomized trial of brachytherapy boost +/- hyperthermia for glioblastoma multiforme," Sneed, 1998, was an early phase III landmark study demonstrating heightened clinical response and increased survival. But the invasive nature of interstitial hyperthermia requires a specialty that few possess. Creating a non-invasive method of applying and steering microwave hyperthermia may bring some relief to those with non-operable Glioblastomas.
We will continue to follow his progress in pushing forward these advancements in the field of thermal oncology.
For the last 40 years, Pyrexar Medical has developed technologies to allow researchers and clinicians to expand the boundaries of thermal oncology. It is in this pursuit, we continue to develop and improve methods and technologies to lead the world in non-invasive cancer treatments.
Patent US 10,737,106 "Apparatus and Method for Creating Small Focus Deep Hyperthermia in Tissues of the Brain” is another step closer to our ultimate goal of improving the lives of patients with cancer.
Congratulations to our entire team, and affiliated partners throughout the world, for making the patent achievement possible. Special recognition also goes to inventors Paul Turner, CTO, and Jason Ellsworth, VP of Engineering, for making this technological breakthrough a reality.
The infographic above highlights the benefits of using hyperthermia as an adjunct treatment for MIBC (Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer). Information based on a dual-arm study Long-Term Experience of Chemoradiotherapy Combined with Deep Regional Hyperthermia for Organ Preservation in High-Risk Bladder Cancer (Ta, Tis, T1, T2) by Merten, et al., published in the December 2019 issue of The Oncologist. The study treated 369 patients from 1982-2016. Patients in the RCT-RHT group received deep regional hyperthermia, once a week, using the Pyrexar BSD-2000/3D.
An important conclusion is that, not only is RCT+HT an alternative to the surgical cystectomy, but it actually preserves the bladder function where the cystectomy damages normal function of the bladder
What the study may not highlight is the improved quality of life compared to the current standard of care, Cystectomy. If you have a radical cystectomy, you'll need reconstructive surgery to create a new way for urine to leave your body. Depending on the type of reconstruction, patients may need to learn how to empty a urostomy bag or have a catheter into their stoma.
Cystectomy Side Effects not found in hyperthermic approach:
- Infections
- Urine leaks
- Incontinence
- Pouch stones
- Blockage of urine flow
- Erectile Disfunction
- Absorption problems (depends on the amount of intestine that was used)
The complete article is available on the NIH PubMed website.
In a new study from the University Hospital at LMU Munich, clinicians looked to improve outcomes for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. According to breastcancer.org, Triple-negative breast cancer is cancer that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and excess HER2 protein. These results mean the growth of the cancer is not fueled by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, or by the HER2 protein. Approximately 10-20% of breast cancers are triple-negative breast cancer and is common in women under the age of 40, who are African-descent, or who have a BRACA1 mutation.
“Patients with triple-negative primary breast cancer (TNBC) who have residual invasive carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy have poor prognosis.” - study quote
The study was offered to 53 patients from August 2012 to January 2019. In the study, patients received six treatment cycles of chemotherapy and 12 applications of regional hyperthermia using the BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System.
Link to article abstract here. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/507473
The University of Maryland Medical Center offers a new Trilogy of Radiation Oncology program at their downtown Baltimore facility. The cancer center, first in the world to provide proton therapy and hyperthermia under one roof, offers the best in cancer treatment technologies to patients. With the addition of the Gammapod treatment system for early-stage breast cancer, the UMMC maintains it's standing as a leader in patient care.
Pyrexar Medical is privileged to have its BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System and BSD-500 Superficial/Interstitial Hyperthermia System in the hands of these medical pioneers. Many advancements and best practices have come from the pioneering work of the Translational Radiation Science Team at the university.
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