Adela Ademaj1,2, Paraskevi D Veltsista3, Dietmar Marder1, Roger A Hälg1,4, Emsad Puric1, Thomas B Brunner5, Hans Crezee6, Dorota Gabrys7, Martine Franckena8, Cihan Gani9, Michael R Horsman10, Robert Krempien11, Lars H Lindner12, Sergio Maluta13, Markus Notter14, Griseldis Petzold15, Sultan Abdel-Rahman12, Antonella Richetti16, Andreas R Thomsen17,18, Pelagia Tsoutsou19, Rainer Fietkau20, Oliver J Ott20, Pirus Ghadjar3, Oliver Riesterer21,22. 1. Centre for Radiation Oncology KSA-KSB, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland. 2. Doctoral Clinical Science Program, Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Department Radiation Oncology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. 4. Institute of Physics, Science Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany. 6. Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Gliwice branch, Poland. 8. Department of Radiation Oncology, , Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 9. Centre for Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany. 10. Department of Clinical Medicine and Experimental Clinical Oncology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. 11. Department of Radiation Oncology, Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch, Berlin, Germany. 12. Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. 13. Department of Hyperthermia, Serena Medical Center, Padova, Italy. 14. Department of Radiation Oncology, Lindenhof Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. 15. Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital Chemnitz, Chemnitz, Germany. 16. Radiation Oncology Clinic, Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland, Bellinzona, Switzerland. 17. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. 18. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. 19. Department of Radiation Oncology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 20. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany. 21. Centre for Radiation Oncology KSA-KSB, Cantonal Hospital Aarau, Aarau, Switzerland. oliver.riesterer@ksa.ch. 22. University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. oliver.riesterer@ksa.ch.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The combination of hyperthermia (HT) with radio(chemo)therapy or chemotherapy (CT) is an established treatment strategy for specific indications. Its application in routine clinical practice in Europe depends on regulatory and local conditions. We conducted a survey among European clinical centers to determine current practice of HT. METHODS: A questionnaire with 22 questions was sent to 24 European HT centers. The questions were divided into two main categories. The first category assessed how many patients are treated with HT in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or CT for specific indications per year. The second category addressed which hyperthermia parameters are recorded. Analysis was performed using descriptive methods. RESULTS: The response rate was 71% (17/24) and 16 centers were included in this evaluation. Annually, these 16 centers treat approximately 637 patients using HT in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or CT. On average, 34% (range: 3-100%) of patients are treated in clinical study protocols. Temperature readings and the time interval between HT and radio(chemo)therapy or CT are recorded in 13 (81%) and 9 (56%) centers, respectively. The thermal dose quality parameter "cumulative equivalent minutes at 43 °C" (CEM43°C) is only evaluated in five (31%) centers for each HT session. With regard to treatment sequence, 8 (50%) centers administer HT before radio(chemo)therapy and the other 8 in the reverse order. CONCLUSION: There is a significant heterogeneity among European HT centers as to the indications treated and the recording of thermometric parameters. More evidence from clinical studies is necessary to achieve standardization of HT practice.
PURPOSE: The combination of hyperthermia (HT) with radio(chemo)therapy or chemotherapy (CT) is an established treatment strategy for specific indications. Its application in routine clinical practice in Europe depends on regulatory and local conditions. We conducted a survey among European clinical centers to determine current practice of HT. METHODS: A questionnaire with 22 questions was sent to 24 European HT centers. The questions were divided into two main categories. The first category assessed how many patients are treated with HT in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or CT for specific indications per year. The second category addressed which hyperthermia parameters are recorded. Analysis was performed using descriptive methods. RESULTS: The response rate was 71% (17/24) and 16 centers were included in this evaluation. Annually, these 16 centers treat approximately 637 patients using HT in combination with radio(chemo)therapy or CT. On average, 34% (range: 3-100%) of patients are treated in clinical study protocols. Temperature readings and the time interval between HT and radio(chemo)therapy or CT are recorded in 13 (81%) and 9 (56%) centers, respectively. The thermal dose quality parameter "cumulative equivalent minutes at 43 °C" (CEM43°C) is only evaluated in five (31%) centers for each HT session. With regard to treatment sequence, 8 (50%) centers administer HT before radio(chemo)therapy and the other 8 in the reverse order. CONCLUSION: There is a significant heterogeneity among European HT centers as to the indications treated and the recording of thermometric parameters. More evidence from clinical studies is necessary to achieve standardization of HT practice.