International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 9 Number 11 - Mar 2014
Hyperthermia, An Initiative To Treat Cancer and
Tumour: A Review
Alisha Luna#1 , Rajni#2
#1
#2
Research Scholar ,SBSSTC,Ferozepur,Punjab.
Associate Professor ,SBSSTC,Ferozepur,Punjab.
Abstract — Hyperthermia refers to treatment of a disease
through induction of high fever or by application of heat. This is
used for cancer and tumour treatment in which body tissue is
exposed to high temperatures, using external and internal
heating devices. So this may be defined more specifically as
raising the temperature of a part or the whole body above
normal for a defined period of time. Hyperthermia is also called
as Thermal therapy or Thermotherapy. It has been observed that
high temperatures can damage and kill cancer cells, usually with
minimal damage to healthy tissues. This paper describes
overview of Hyperthermia, its types and various methods of
Hyperthermia treatment with different types of antennas.
Keywords— Hyperthermia, Specific Absorption Rate (SAR),
Finite Element Method ( FEM), Microwave Ablation.
I. INTRODUCTION
Hyperthermia has been one of the major subject of interest
in investigating biological effects and applications of
microwave for treatment of cancer and tumour. Recently,
methods for hyperthermia treatment using ultrasound or
electromagnetic energy have been introduced into cancer
treatment, fat reduction and muscle treatment [1]. Cancer has
become one of the most distressing disease in the developed
country these days. External radio-frequency/microwave
hyperthermia antenna applicators are designed to noninvasively combine electromagnetic (EM) energy through
human skin as an extra anti-cancer treatment with an Ionizing
or Chemo-Therapy [2]. The most common therapies in use for
treatment of cancer diseases these days are radiotherapy and
chemotherapy. However these treatments have a lot of
negative side effects, so it becomes essentials to find out
alternatives which permit the patient to fight the illness
without any other consequences or symptoms of radiotherapy
and chemotherapy. Several clinical trials of hyperthermia in
combination with radiation therapy or chemotherapy have
been reported [3]. These studies have paying attention on the
dealing of a number of types of cancer, including cancers of
the head and neck etc. Approximately many of these studies
have exposed a major decline in tumour size when
hyperthermia is combined with other treatments As an
alternative to standard surgical therapies , ablation or high
temperature hyperthermia, plus lasers and the use of
radiofrequency, microwaves, and high-intensity focused
ultrasound, are in advance consideration [4]. To raise the
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temperature to approximately 42–45 degree Celsius the
energy is deployed in regions with cancerous tumour-masses.
The non-ionizing application aims to selectively infuse the
additional energy without damaging the enclosing fit tissues
since tumours have reduced rates of temperature cooling due
to naturally impeded blood flow. The advantage of using
Hyperthermia include the direct killing of raised temperature
tumourous cells, increased cell oxygenation, stimulation of the
immune system, increased metabolic activity and an improved
drug uptake in cells [5]. Hyperthermia can be used in different
fields like tumour therapy, stanching by heat coagulating and
curdling of the abnormal hyperplasia tissue. Microwave
Hyperthermia has been additionally recommended because of
its less side effects than other methods. There are several
suitable applicators, which are helpful for curing subsurface
tumour [6]. Presently an ideal system uses the electromagnetic
energy as a heating source for Hyperthermia treatment. The
main advantage of microwave energy is shorter application of
time and its potential for creating larger and more effective
thermal lesion at greater depth. For generation of continuous
linear transmural lesions Microwave antennas are the critical
elements. These applicators raise the temperature of tumour
which is based on power absorption. The main challenge of
these applicators has to obtain a regulation of the EM energy
deposition [7]. Microwave hyperthermia was introduced quite
a few decades ago and in spite of predicting results, it
survived mostly as academic research, because of the
difficulties concerned with commercially available heating
equipment and clinicians’ skepticism [8].
II.
DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH IN
HYPERTHERMIA
Just about 3000 years before the medical use of
Hyperthermia in the system of predictable medicine
(Ayurveda) has begun. "Panchakarma" a clinical protocol
developed was used in healing and preventive medicine. The
results was not carried out completely for clinical application
as per the study of hyperthermia in early twentieth century
since the technology developed at that time was not sufficient.
There was rising enthusiasm in the first decade, reflected by
an exponential raise in quantity of papers and participants at
meetings. Then after that the interest declined. There were two
causes of this declination. First was unsatisfactory clinical
results obtained from random studies and second was the
reluctance coming from the sponsoring authorities and
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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 9 Number 11 - Mar 2014
hospital boards to support further research. As in modern ages,
the literature on the use of hyperthermia, also as an adjunct to
other treatments or as the primary mode of tumour abolition,
goes back to the last century. The first paper on hyperthermia
was published in 1886. In 1980s numerous clinical trials were
developed. Research continued in the early 1990s because of
little clinical success [9]. In 1975 the first international
congress on hyperthermic oncology initiate a word wide
interest in Hyperthermia which was held in Washington. A
hyperthermia group was formed in 1981 in United states,
whereas hyperthermia Institute was formed in 1983 in
European state. Hyperthermia research in Japan started in
1978 and the Japanese Society of hyperthermia oncology was
recognized in 1984 [10].
III. REASONS FOR HYPERTHERMIA
Based on physiological basis (physiological hyperthermia)
simplest remedial application of heat is dealing of aches, pains,
strains, and sprains through application of temperature under
41°C for around an hour and use physiological mechanism for
rising blood flow and metabolic rates[11]. It is proved that
malignant cells are more sensitive to heat than normal
counterparts on the basis of various reports [12]. The heat
therapy is helpful for the interior environment of tumour cell,
such, poor nutrition, and low pH damaging cell kill by
ionizing radiation. Acidic environment of tumour confers
opposition to radiation but favours cell kill due to heat. The
outcome of hyperthermia depends on the temperature and
exposure time [13].
IV.
METHODS OF HYPERTHERMIA TREATMENT
There are main three types of hyperthermia as described
below.
A. Regional Hyperthermia
In this type various approaches are used to heat large areas
of tissue, like cavity, organ or limb. In this external
applicators are used for deep tissues which are positioned
around the body cavity and organ to be treated and microwave
energy is used on that area to increase its temperature [14].
For cancer in some limb like arms and legs, such as
melanoma, regional perfusion techniques is used. In this one,
patient’s blood is removed, heated, and then refused back into
organ. Fig. 1 shows the technique of using Regional
Hyperthermia on leg.
B. Local Hyperthermia
In this, heat is applied to a little region, such as a tumour,
using different techniques which are used to transport energy
to heat the tumour. Energy used to apply heat include
microwave, radiofrequency, and ultrasound. There are several
approaches to local hyperthermia, depending on the location
of tumour [15]. The main purpose of local Hyperthermia is
the delivery of electromagnetic energy using s applicator,
which is placed in close proximity to the tumour area
sometimes using interstitial techniques [16]. The main
techniques of Local Hyperthermia is as follows.
1) External techniques: These techniques are used for
tumours which are just below the skin. The energy is
focused on the tumour to raise its temperature by the
use of external applicators which are positioned
around or near the appropriate region [17].
2) Intraluminal methods: These methods are applied to
treat tumours within or near body cavities, such as
the
oesophagus. In this technique probes are
inserted within the cavity to transport energy
straightforwardly to tumour [18].
3) Interstitial techniques: These techniques are used to
treat tumours bottomless within the body, such as
brain tumours. In this technique tumour to be treated
are heated to higher temperatures than peripheral
techniques. Probes or needles are inserted into the
tumour under anaesthesia. Imaging technique like
ultrasound is used find out the proper location of
probes within the tissue [19].
C. Whole Body Hyperthermia
This is used to treat cancer which is spread throughout
the body. This can be made with technique that lift up the
body temperature above normal, including the use of
thermal chamber or warm wet blankets [20].
V. ABSORPTION IN HUMAN BODY
One of the key factor to calculate absorption in human
body is SAR that is specific absorption rate. It is defined as
the power wrapped up per mass of tissue and has units of
watts per kilogram. SAR is typically averaged either over the
whole body, or over a minute model volume [21].
SAR = σ E² ∕ ρ [W/Kg]
(1)
Where σ is the conductivity of the tissue (S/m), ρ is the
density of the tissue (Kg/m3), and E is the electric field (V/m)
[22].
Figure 1 Regional Hyperthermia
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VI. NUMERICAL TECHNIQUES
A number of numerical Methods are available to predict
electromagnetic fields induced on body. Some use Maxwell’s
equations in the differential form whereas other use an
integral of Maxwell’s equations for calculating induced field.
The most commonly used numerical techniques are Method
Of moments (MOM), Finite Element method (FEM), Finite
Difference Time Domain method (FDTD).
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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 9 Number 11 - Mar 2014
A. Method Of Moments
MOM has been effectively applied to a large variety of EM
problems [23]. The technique for applying MOM usually
involves four steps: (i) derivation of the suitable integral
equation (IE), (ii) adaptation (discretization) of the IE into a
matrix equation using beginning (or expansions) functions and
weighting (or testing) functions, (iii) estimation of the matrix
elements, and (iv) solving the matrix equation and obtaining
the output parameters [24].
of the coaxial cable while the tip of the dipole antenna is a
whole piece of metal. Limitations of using slot antenna is low
power reflection, has a tail on its SAR pattern i.e problem of
backward heating , SAR patterns also depend on the antenna
insertion depth [29]. Fig 3 shows the slot antenna .
B. Finite Difference Time Domain Method
Figure 3 Slot Antenna
The FDTD method was first projected by K.S Yee in 1966
B. Coaxial Slot Antenna
and has proved to be very efficient numerical algorithm in
In this Coaxial slot Antenna, slim partially grid coaxial
computational electromagnetic for the solution of Maxwell’s
curl equations by directly propagation of waves into a volume cable is used which is required in the interstitial treatment.
of space containing the biological body [25]. To evaluate the Limitations of this antenna are the Optimization of antenna
field components this method is based on the estimation of the elements is needed to use for large coagulated region and
derivative by central difference. A standard grid in the improvement in the structure of each element is needed [30].
Cartesian co-ordinate system is generated by the usual FDTD
algorithm and to analyze structure on an fundamental
C. Monopole Coaxial Antenna
Cartesian grid staircase approximation is used. The main
In microwave ablation the monopole coaxial antenna is
benefit of the FDTD method is that it allows a threecommonly
used. The monopole antennas are very simple to
dimensional (3-D) study of the applicator configurations, with
fabricate,
but
the performance of these monopole antennas are
no need for time consuming measurements [26].
not very pleasing for microwave ablation. The SAR patterns
of these antennas have long tails, which could add backward
C. Finite Element Method
heating [31].
The FEM method at first used by P. Silvester [27] for
electromagnetic field problems and has been preferred as D. Probe Feed Patch Antenna
numerical algorithm in many fields of applications . In this we
The patch antenna belongs to the class resonant antennas.
divide the body under study into a finite number of pieces
It
is
resonant when the length, L is around half multiples of
(sub domains) called elements. Through this discretization
the
resonant
frequency. The patch antenna consists in general
process, the method sets up an algebraic system of equations
for unidentified nodal values which estimate the continuous of three major layer, ground plane, substrate and patch. The
main advantages are that it is low profile antenna, it has low
solution [28].Fig 2 show FEM modelling
cost, easy to manufacture and wide bandwidth [32]. Figure 4
shows the patch antenna with coaxial feed.
Figure 2 FEM modelling
VII. ANTENNAS USED IN HYPERTHERMIA
Many antennas designs have been proposed, optimized and
verified. In this section we discuss the performance of various
antennas.
A. Dipole Antenna with Slot Antenna
At the end of the antenna tip the external conductor and the
center conductor are soldered for slot antenna and a ring of
metal is cut off the antenna external conductor to be the
antenna slot. Inside the tip of a slot antenna is s the dielectric
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Figure 4 Patch Antenna
VII. CONCLUSION
The paper discusses a survey on Hyperthermia . It has
proved a very successful treatment in combination with
radiation therapy or chemotherapy As cancer is a type of
disease in which cells are aggressive, invasive and metastatic,
so Hyperthermia is one of the most recent therapy to treat
cancer and it also increases the sensitivity of cancer cells
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International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 9 Number 11 - Mar 2014
towards radiation. In this paper impact of various antennas has
also been discussed and various numerical technique are also
included in this.
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