What is Hyperthermia Treatment?
Hyperthermia Therapy is a Non-Invasive Integrated Therapy used in our CancerCare program. It is a Class III licensed LRHT device, called the Oncotherm EHY-2000 (Modulated Electro-hyperthermia). Optimum Wellness Integrated Clinic is one of the few integrated cancer clinics in North America, and the only clinic in Northern Alberta, to offer this therapy. Previously this therapy was only offered in Europe and Asia and we are proud to be only 1 in 8 clinics In North America to offer this therapy.
The use of hyperthermia in our clinic in conjunction with other evidence-based therapies, when strategically integrated, provide the best outcomes for our patients. Clinical research has shown that when used as an adjunctive treatment, alongside chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation, there is a synergistic effect leading to improved tumor response, enhanced quality of life and better clinical outcomes for patients.
Loco-Regional Hyperthermia [LRHT], also known as Oncothermia or modulated electro-hyperthermia has been used for decades in Germany and is used in conventional oncology settings alongside chemotherapy and radiation. There are numerous studies detailing its use as an adjunctive cancer therapy. Over 100,000 hyperthermia treatments (using the oncotherm-200 plus device) are administered worldwide every year, to patients with a variety of different cancer types, diagnosed with different stages of disease, and undergoing different treatment regimens.
How it Works
Oncotherm’s EHY-2000 loco-regional hyperthermia (LRHT) combines traditional hyperthermia with a modulated electrical field (around 13.56 MHz) using two electrodes to accurately and selectively sensitize and/or destroy cancer cells, while sparing normal cell function. LRHT treatment is based on two key effects: cellular-level selection and energy absorption induced heating. In oncology, hyperthermia refers to the treatment of malignant diseases by administering heat. This results in Increased blood and oxygen flow to the treatment area. Experimental studies indicate that hyperthermia is both an effective adjunctive treatment to radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is also a strong sensitizer of these treatments. The aim of loco-regional hyperthermia is to achieve the optimal thermal dose in the tumor tissue. This is generally defined as a temperature elevation between 40 ° and 45 °C. without exceeding the tolerance limits of the surrounding normal tissues.
Tumor cells consume more energy than healthy tissue. This means tumors have a higher amount of ions compared to healthy ones. When radio frequency is applied, the current chooses the easiest path, which is through the malignant tissue. The radio frequency being applied (which is about 10 times lower than a radio broadcasting frequency) conducts best through the malignant cells membrane, where there is a high concentration of electrolytes. The radio frequency application causes the liquid-filled membrane to heat up, and therefore it becomes damaged. This can cause the cell to die, or it can trigger the immune system into recognizing the cell is damaged. Triggering immune response causes the body to kill off the damaged tumor cells.
This image above illustrates the application of LRHT. A mobile electrode is positioned in accordance with the body area being treated, while a second stationary electrode remains in a fixed position below the patient, integrated within the therapy bed. The modulated radio frequency-RF field (represented by the red lines) emitted by the electrodes, passes through the patient’s body. The RF field tends to move predominantly through the cellular pathways with the highest conductivity, which tend to be malignant tissue (tumor). There is a considerable amount of good experimental data, and a clear rationale for using hyperthermia in cancer treatment. Hyperthermia is a promising approach and deserves consideration as part of standard treatment in tumor sites. The naturopathic doctors in our CancerCare team will determine if LRHT is a treatment option for you.