Possible benefits of hyperthermia to chemotherapy.

The advantages of hyperthermia for chemotherapy are discussed in detail. These advantages are (a) synergy with chemotherapeutic drugs and also with ionizing radiation, (b) low host toxicity, (c) ease of control (heating precisions in the range of +/- 0.1 degrees C and specific definable localized areas), and (d) low resistance (chemotherapeutic resistance and hyperthermic resistance). The potential for hyperthermia and chemotherapy in the treatment of specific human cancers, both disseminated and solid tumors, are discussed with respect to current therapy and the possible benefit of hyperthermia treatment.