Efficacy of Combined Regional Inductive Moderate Hyperthermia and Chemotherapy in Patients With Multiple Liver Metastases From Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: Regional inductive moderate hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy can improve the therapeutic efficacy in patients with breast cancer with multiple liver metastases. METHODS: The study included 103 patients with breast cancer with multiple liver metastases: 53 patients (main group) who received a combined chemotherapy (TC drug combination) and regional inductive moderate hyperthermia treatment and 50 patients (control group) who received chemotherapy (TC drug combination) alone. Regional inductive moderate hyperthermia exploited electromagnetic fields with an operating frequency of 27.17 ± 0.16 MHz and output power of 75 W. Treatment results were assessed by computed tomography and ultrasound imaging. RESULTS: Partial regression was defined as a 30% decrease in the sum of the maximum diameters of investigated tumors. In the current study, partial regression was described in 8 (15.1%) patients assigned to the main group and 2 (4%) patients in the control (P < .05). The process stabilization was reported in 32 (60.4%) patients receiving the combined treatment and 19 (38%) in the control (P < .05). Equally important, tumor progression was observed in 13 (24.5%) patients representing the main group and 29 (58%) in the control. During a 30-minute treatment session, a temperature increase overlaying greater than 90% of the liver projection exposed to electromagnetic irradiation was not exceeding 40°C. CONCLUSION: The combined regional inductive moderate hyperthermia and chemotherapy treatment increased the overall therapeutic efficacy by 33.9% (χ(2) = 12.182; P < .01).