Whole body hyperthermia: a secure procedure for patients with various malignancies?

OBJECTIVE

To establish the safety of systemic Cancer Multistep Therapy (sCMT) including whole body hyperthermia, by means of hemodynamic, laboratory and clinical investigations.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

University clinic.

PATIENTS

12 patients with various cancers (with sCMT), a second group of 20 patients with colorectal carcinoma treated with chemotherapy (without sCMT).

INTERVENTIONS

25 treatments with sCMT for 60 min at 41.8 degrees C (including chemotherapy) were given in addition to induced hyperoxemia and hyperglycemia under general anesthesia.

MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS

Invasive monitoring of systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics as well as pulmonary gas exchange was used at 37 degrees C, 40 degrees C, 41.8 degrees C and 39 degrees C. In addition, laboratory parameters were measured before and within 4 days of therapy. At 41.8 degrees C, invasive monitoring showed characteristic signs of hyperdynamic circulation. In addition, right-to-left shunt, oxygen consumption, oxygen delivery and lactate levels were significantly different from pretreatment values. At the end of therapy, lactate levels and the extravascular lung water index increased, whereas all other parameters showed a clear tendency to return to initial values. Within the first day after sCMT, we measured a slight but significant reversible increase in serum creatinine compared to pretreatment values, but found no significant alterations of other chemical parameters. Between the sCMT group and controls, there was only a temporary significant difference in aspartate aminotransferase levels 2 days after therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

sCMT, including whole body hyperthermia, accompanied by suitable anesthesiological management and monitoring, does not lead to any serious or sustained organ dysfunction and can therefore be regarded as a safe therapy.