Hyperthermia and chemotherapy: preclinical considerations.

ABSTRACT

Malignant cells appear to be selectively sensitive to thermal injury. The precise mechanism of cell death after thermal exposure has not been established, but the phenomenon has been demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo techniques. Synergy of hyperthermia and chemotherapy has been demonstrated for several agents, but in vitro results are not uniformly confirmed in vivo. In some agents (methyl-CCNU) no synergy was found in vivo. In others (adriamycin) synergy was only demonstrated at drug doses with intolerable toxicity. Studies of the effects of hyperthermia on drug pharmacokinetics are desirable for future clinical trial design.