How to analyze the efficacy of hyperthermia plus radiotherapy for esophageal cancer

Esophageal cancer is a common malignant tumor in my country. The main reason for its treatment failure is still local recurrence. However, hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy can improve the local control rate. Therefore, reasonable hyperthermia technology combined with radiotherapy is expected to improve the prognosis of esophageal cancer.

For example, Wang Jianhua reported in 2001 the results of a randomized study of esophageal cancer treated with intracavitary hyperthermia combined with external radiotherapy: 59 cases in the hyperthermia plus radiotherapy group, radiotherapy dose DT40Gy, intracavitary warming 1-2 times a week, 45 minutes each time, tumor surface temperature greater than 43'C, DT60Gy in the external irradiation group, post-treatment hyperthermia plus radiotherapy group CR rate, 5-year survival rate, 10-year survival rate were 46%, 26.9%, 17.3%; while the CR rate, 5-year survival rate, 10-year survival rate in the radiotherapy group alone were 24%, 16.7%, 7.5%. The results showed that intracavitary hyperthermia combined with external irradiation can improve the local control rate of esophageal cancer and improve long-term survival.

For advanced esophageal cancer that can be operated on, Japan has started relevant clinical research since 1983. On the basis of preoperative synchronous chemoradiotherapy for advanced esophageal cancer, hyperthermia was added, and satisfactory results were achieved. Hyperthermia therapy uses intracavitary hyperthermia, with a treatment temperature of 42-45°C, lasting 30 minutes each time, and hyperthermia twice a week; chemotherapy used bleomycin 5mg twice a week before 1991; after 1991, it was changed to cisplatin 50mg once a week due to the pulmonary toxicity of bleomycin; radiotherapy uses conventional fractionated irradiation technology, with a total amount of 30Gy/15 times/3 weeks, and surgery is performed 7 to 10 days after treatment. Postoperative pathology confirmed that the CR rate of patients in the hyperthermia group was significantly better than that in the non-hyperthermia group. In subsequent randomized studies, it was also confirmed that the addition of hyperthermia can significantly improve the long-term survival of esophageal cancer. With the increase in the number of cases studied, the intervention of hyperthermia has significantly improved the long-term survival of esophageal cancer.