Following an introductory overview, Hyperthermia In Cancer Treatment: A Primer comprehensively describes the biological reasons for associating hyperthermia with radiation and chemotherapy and the biological and clinical effects of hyperthermia on cancerous and normal tissues. The volume’s 20 chapters are arranged in three principal parts: physical and methodological studies, biologic principles, and clinical studies.
The discovery of uniform latex particles by polymer chemists of the Dow Chemical Company nearly 50 years ago opened up new exciting fields for scientists and physicians and established many new biomedical applications. Many in vitro diagnostic tests such as the latex agglutination tests, analytical cell and phagocytosis tests have since become rou tine. They were all developed on the basis of small particles bound to biological active molecules and fluorescent and radioactive markers. Further developments are ongoing, with the focus now shifted to applications of polymer particles in the controlled and di rected transport of drugs in living systems. Four important factors make microspheres interesting for in vivo applications: First, biocompatible polymer particles can be used to transport known amounts of drug and re lease them in a controlled fashion. Second, particles can be made of materials which bio degrade in living organisms without doing any harm. Third, particles with modified surfaces are able to avoid rapid capture by the reticuloendothelial system and therefore en hance their blood circulation time. Fourth, combining particles with specific molecules may allow organ-directed targeting.
Hyperthermia as a tool for the treatment of malignant disease is rapidly becoming a clinical reality. In this book I am attempting to summarize the known biological and physical underpinnings that have led to this development. I also present a compilation of existing clinical results, limited as these are. My aim is to provide oncologists and other physicians with up-to-date information on this modality, which is both new and old, as well as to make available to biologists, physicists and engineers sum maries of currently available information on specific areas of hyperthermic research. Many people have helped me with this book. Specifically, thanks are due to Drs. William Dewey, Jean Dutreix, Peter Fessenden, Gloria Li, and Jane Marmor. Their suggestions have been invaluable. I hope that not too many errors and omissions have crept into the volume, but in any case, for these I have only myself to blame. I also wish to express my appreciation to David Betten and Marie Graham for their help. Most of this material was written while I was on sabbatical leave on the shores of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala. There I enjoyed the hospitality of a gracious, friendly, and proud people who deserve better than fate seems to have in store for them.
Hyperthermia has been found to be of great benefit in combination with radiation therapy or chemotherapy in the management of patients with difficult and com plicated tumor problems. It has been demonstrated to increase the efficacy of ionizing radiation when used locally but also has been of help in combination with systemic chemotherapy where hyperthermia is carried out to the total body. Triple modality (thermo-chemo-radiotherapy) or other treatment combinations have not been fully evaluated and may demonstrate extended clinical applications in the future. Problems remain with regard to maximizing the effects of hyperthermia as they are influenced by a variety of external and intrinsic factors including bloodflow, microenvironment etc. While the previous volume has summarized more theoretical aspects of hyper thermia, i.e. biology, physiology and physics, the present volume compiles the current knowledge relative to the clinical applications of hyperthermia in combina tion with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, providing a comprehensive over view of its use in cancer management.
This updated Fourth Edition provides comprehensive coverage of the biology of gynecologic cancer, the therapeutic modalities available, and the diagnosis and treatment of site-specific malignancies. Because of the importance of multimodality treatment, the site-specific chapters are co-authored by a surgical oncologist, a medical oncologist, a radiation oncologist, and a pathologist. A significant portion of this edition focuses on monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and gene directed therapies and how they can greatly improve treatment outcomes. A new chapter on end-of-life care is also included. Three distinguished new editors—Richard R. Barakat, MD, Maurie Markman, MD, and Marcus E. Randall, MD—now join the editorial team.
Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Biological Processes covers emerging areas in fluid flow and heat transfer relevant to biosystems and medical technology. This book uses an interdisciplinary approach to provide a comprehensive prospective on biofluid mechanics and heat transfer advances and includes reviews of the most recent methods in modeling of flows in biological media, such as CFD. Written by internationally recognized researchers in the field, each chapter provides a strong introductory section that is useful to both readers currently in the field and readers interested in learning more about these areas. Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow in Biological Processes is an indispensable reference for professors, graduate students, professionals, and clinical researchers in the fields of biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry and medicine working on applications of fluid flow, heat transfer, and transport phenomena in biomedical technology. - Provides a wide range of biological and clinical applications of fluid flow and heat transfer in biomedical technology - Covers topics such as electrokinetic transport, electroporation of cells and tissue dialysis, inert solute transport (insulin), thermal ablation of cancerous tissue, respiratory therapies, and associated medical technologies - Reviews the most recent advances in modeling techniques
Hyperthermia has been found to be of great benefit in combination with radiation therapy or chemotherapy in the management of patients with difficult and com plicated tumor problems. It has been demonstrated to increase the efficacy, of ionising radiation when used locally but also has been of help in combination with systemic chemotherapy where hyperthermia is carried out to the total body. Problems remain with regard to maximizing the effects of hyperthermia as in fluenced by blood flow, heat loss, etc. The present volume defines the current knowledge relative to hyperthermia with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy, giving a comprehensive overview of its use in cancer management. Philadelphia/Hamburg, June 1995 L.W. BRADY H.-P. HEILMANN Preface In an attempt to overcome tumor resistance, hypoxia, or unfavorable tumor condi tions, oncological research has come to focus on gene therapy, immunotherapy, new cytotoxic agents, and increasingly sophisticated radiotherapy. Radiation research has been directed towards heavy particle therapy and modification of the radiation response by either protecting or sensitizing agents. Improved dose localization using rotational or conformal strategies has also been implemented. Recently, changes in radiation fractionation schedules have shown promise of better results. Hyperthermia in cancer therapy can be viewed similarly as another means to increase the sensitivity of tumors to radio- and chemotherapy.