Cancer

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body multiply out of control and spread to other parts of the body.

Under normal conditions, human cells form and multiply (through a process called cell division) to form new cells as they are needed by the body. When cells become old or damaged, they die and new cells replace them.

Sometimes the process does not follow this order and abnormal or damaged cells form and multiply when they should not. These cells may form tumours, which are lumps of tissue.

Tag Archive for: Cancer

Benefits of vitamin C in chemotherapy-resistant cancer

Benefits of vitamin C in chemotherapy-resistant cancer

The Department of Translational Oncology of the Fundación Jiménez Díaz in Madrid carried out research on Vitamin C. Its ability to reduce tumor resistance to conventional therapies (chemotherapy) by modulating aberrant metabolism was studied.

The research was managed by the Quirónsalud health group, and its Health Research Institute (IIS-FJD). It was also supported by the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM).

The study then detected a surprising and previously unreported role of vitamin C in the regulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activity and its action against the KRAS gene mutation.

Dr Óscar Aguilera, senior research scientist in OncoHealth’s Translational Oncology Department, explained the work:

“We think that metabolic modulation of the tumor can make it much more sensitive to chemotherapy and could significantly increase patients’ life expectancy and improve their quality of life.”

“The almost complete absence of serious side effects of vitamin C in megadoses invites clinical trials with patients in combination with various pharmaceutical molecules of interest.”

Vitamin C and chemotherapy resistance

The authors of the study highlight resistance to conventional chemotherapy and anti-EGFR biologic therapies as the major obstacle facing oncology. The approach of new adjuvant treatments, such as Vitamin C, represents a real progression in cure statistics and in the reduction of cancer mortality.

References

Article published in: https://international.ucam.edu/university-news/significant-advances-effectiveness-vitamin-c-treat-persistent-cancers

More information

You can access the medical study at the following link:

Cenigaonandia-Campillo A, Serna-Blasco R, Gómez-Ocabo L, Solanes-Casado S, Baños-Herraiz N, Puerto-Nevado LD, Cañas JA, Aceñero MJ, García-Foncillas J, Aguilera Ó. Vitamin C activates pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) targeting the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in hypoxic KRAS mutant colon cancer. Theranostics 2021; 11(8):3595-3606. doi:10.7150/thno.51265. Available from https://www.thno.org/v11p3595.htm

For more information, you can visit our website.

Recurrent malignant glioma treated with Oncothermia

Recurrent malignant glioma treated with Oncothermia

Through an observational retrospective clinical study, the Onco-Ematology Department of “Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord” in Italy evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of Oncothermia (Electro-hyperthermia) for the treatment of recurrent malignant glioma.

Method

This is a retrospective observational clinical study. Patients, diagnosed with malignant glioma, experienced a previous failure with chemotherapy and radiotherapy based on temozolamide. Then, they were told a treatment with Oncothermia (Electro-Hyperthermia).

Oncothermia was performed with short radio waves of 13.56 MHz. The surface temperature of the skin was maintained at 26 ° C. Likewise, the applied power ranged between 40 and 150 watts and the average equivalent temperature calculated in the tumors was above 40 ° C, for more than 90% of the duration of the treatment (20-60 minutes gradually).

Result

Of the 24 patients who were part of the study, 19 (79%) had glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), of which 13 were grade 1-3 and 6 grade 4. The remaining patients (21%) had astrocytoma.

The analysis of tumor response performed two months after the application of Oncotermia (Electro-Hyperthermia), showed the following results:

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  • 2 patients (8%) experienced a complete remission
  • 5 patients (21%) had a partial remission.
  • The average duration of the response was 16 months (range 6-120).

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The median survival of the entire study population was 19.5 months (range 2-156), with 55% survival rate per year and 15% at two years.

In conclusion, the treatment of Oncothermia (Electro-Hyperthermia) seems to have promising efficacy in adults with recurrent malignant glioma.

You can consult the study in the following link.

If you wish, you can find more information about Gliomas treated with Oncotermia on our website.

Oncothermia in the treatment of head and neck cancer

Oncothermia in the treatment of head and neck cancer.

Oncothermia treatment applied in conjunction with radiation or chemotherapy can improve efficacy and increase overall and disease-free survival.

In a recent study published by the Department of Radiation, Oncology at Nanavati Hospital in Mumbai, India, led by Dr. Balabhai, assesses the effects of Oncothermia in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy.

From a retrospective analysis of patients who received paclitaxel or cisplatin together with radical radiation and weekly sessions of Oncothermia, spectacular survival was obtained in advanced head and neck cancer. Similarly, a randomized trial to assess the role of HT with radiation therapy has shown a statistically significant improvement.

Due to high tobacco use, head and neck cancers constitute a significant burden of all cancers in Indian men.

Method

Patients were randomized to receive radiotherapy (RT) alone (control group), 26 patients, or radiation with Oncothermia (RT + ONC) (trial group), 28 patients.

The mean age of the patients in the control group was 58.42 years (45-76 years) and in the test group it was 57.71 years (31-78 years).

Patients in both groups received radiation up to a total dose of 70 Gy in 7 weeks with conventional fractionation of 5 days a week, without treatment on weekends. On the other hand, patients in the trial group received weekly RF-based ONC in addition to RT. Twenty-one patients in the control group and twenty-two patients in the experimental group received more than 60 Gy.

Result

Initial response was assessed within 7-10 days after completion of treatment, based on clinical evaluation.

A complete response was observed in 11 of 26 (42.4%) patients in the radiation alone group, while 22 of 28 (78.6%) patients had a complete response in the ONC + RT group.

The difference between the mean survival times between the RT + ONC and RT groups was almost 100 days.

In conclusion

Oncothermia is a very powerful hypoxic cell sensitizer. Therefore, Oncothermia together with radiation is an ideal combination to follow. The present randomized study, supported by the Indian Council for Medical Research, has shown a survival benefit from adding Oncothermia to radical radiation therapy.

In conclusion, both the randomized trial and the retrospective data analysis demonstrate a significant improvement in survival due to the addition of Oncothermia.

More information

Study published in the Oncothermia Journal, Volume 10, June 2014. To access the full study, you can consult the following link.

If you wish to expand the information regarding Oncotermia applied to cancers, you can visit the following link.

Skin Cancer Treated with Oncothermia and Intravenous Vitamin C

Skin Cancer Treated with Oncothermia and Intravenous Vitamin C

The following is a case report of a 75 year old male patient. The diagnosis is skin cancer. He was treated with oncothermia, combined with intravenous Vitamin C nutrition.

Diagnosis

In April 2019, the patient presented with skin cancer. In particular, a basal cell carcinoma on the left wing of the nose.

Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of this cancer. It presents in the form of an ulcer with non-healing scabs that progressively increases in size. Treatment consists of surgical resection, leaving the margins free to avoid recurrence.

At the Oncothermia Unit in Barcelona we carry out coadjuvant treatment for these medical cases.

Treatment

Oncothermia and intravenous Vitamin C nutrition are recommended to reduce tumour volume.

Accordingly, she undergoes 15 60-minute Oncothermia sessions, with a frequency of 2 sessions per week, together with intravenous Vitamin C nutrition.

Result:

After completing the treatment the basal cell carcinoma disappeared completely.

If you wish, you can find more information about cancer treated with Oncotermia on our website, you can consult this link.

Combined treatment of Oncothermia for patients with ovarian cancer

Combined treatment of Oncothermia in Multimodal Immunotherapy.

Ovarian cancer is usually a serious disease with a poor prognosis, mainly due to the spread of the disease before diagnosis. Surgery, chemotherapy and antiangiogenesis are essential for first-line treatment. At the time of relapse or metastasis, only palliative treatments can be performed.

However, Active Specific Immunotherapy has proven capable of prolonging overall survival with a good quality of life.

In the following article, different experiences obtained with ovarian cancer patients treated with Multimodal Immunotherapy have been compiled. That is, injections with the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV), modulated electrohyperthermia (mEHT / Oncothermia), IO-VAC® and immunomodulatory strategies such as: ATRA, low dose cyclophosphamide or checkpoint blockers.

The treatment was performed on an outpatient basis, with very positive results.

If you wish, you can find more information about ovarian cancer treated with Oncotermia on our website you can check this link.

Clinical study: Oncothermia as a palliative treatment for pancreatic cancer

Clinical study: Oncothermia as a palliative treatment for pancreatic cancer

Retrospective observational study of 106 patients with pancreatic cancer (pancreatic adenocarcinoma) led by Giammaria Fiorentini M.D., of the Onco-Hematology Department of the “Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord” Hospital in Pesaro, Italy, treated with Oncothermia.

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the cancers with the poorest prognosis, resulting in a <10% survival rate at 5 years. Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT – Oncothermia) combines heat-therapy with an electric field and has been increasingly used in cancer therapy alone or in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Methods

Based on retrospective data from 170 patients affected by stage III-IV pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 106 were considered for this study. The sample was divided into two groups: 67 patients that did not receive Oncothermia (non-MEHT) and 39 patients that were treated with Oncothermia (mEHT). 

Oncothermia (mEHT) was performed using a capacitive coupling technique keeping the skin surface at 26°C and 40-42.5°C inside the tumor for > 90% of treatment duration (40-90 minutes). The applied power was 60-150 Watts. Oncothermia was performed in association with chemotherapy in 32 (82%) of patients whereas 7 (18%) received Oncothermia alone. The majority (54%) of no-mEHT group received a second line chemotherapy, whereas 31 (46%) did not receive any further treatment.

Results

106 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study, median age of the sample was 65 (range 31-80) years.

After three months of therapy, tumor response in Oncothermia group was:

  • partial response (PR) in 22 (56%) patients
  • stable disease (SD) in 15 (38%) patients
  • progression disease (PD) in 2 (5%) patients

Tumor response in no-Oncothermia group was:

  • partial response (PR) in 4 (11%) patients
  • stable disease (SD) in 11 (31%) patients
  • progression disease (PD) in 21 (58%) patients.

The median overall survival (OS) of mEHT group was 17.23 (range 2.6-30.4) and 11,33 months (range 0.4-56.25) for non-mEHT group.

In conclusion, Oncothermia may improve tumor response and survival of pancreatic cancer patients.

More information about the study in the following link.

More information about pancreatic cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website (link) or in the following clinical case.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour treated with Oncothermia

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour treated with Oncothermia

 

The following is the clinical case of a 70-year-old male patient. The diagnosis is malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour in the left buttock. He was treated with radiotherapy, combined with oncothermia.

 

Diagnosis

In September 2012 he was diagnosed with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour in the buttock.

 

Treatment

He received radiotherapy of 30 Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks in September 2012. Overall, after radiotherapy the tumour remained in progress for 2 months.

Oncothermia was started 2-3 times per week as an adjunct to radiotherapy.

 

Result

The tumour regressed with oncothermia treatment and this process continued gradually when oncothermia was maintained for 1 year.

 

 

(a) Radiotherapy treatment
(b) Radiation therapy and 24 sessions of Oncothermia
(c) Treatment with radiotherapy and 48 sessions of Oncothermia
(d) Treatment with radiotherapy and 72 sessions of Oncothermia
(e) Treatment with radiotherapy and 108 sessions of Oncothermia (1 year after starting treatment).

 

Reference

Jeung, T. , et al. (2015) Results of Oncothermia Combined with Operation, Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for Primary, Recurrent and Metastatic Sarcoma. Case Reports in Clinical Medicine, 4, 157-168. doi: 10.4236/crcm.2015.45033.

 

If you wish, you can find more information about clinical cases treated with Oncotermia on our website.

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Oncothermia EHY-2000: Latest technology

Oncothermia EHY-2000: Latest technology

Oncological Nanothermia or Oncothermia is a non-invasive modulated electromagnetic hyperthermia method, adjuvant in cancer treatment, which promotes a natural regulatory process of the body.

The Oncotherm® brand was founded in 1988 by Professor Dr. András Szász, as an initiative for the development and research of the electro-hyperthermia method in cancer treatment.

Oncothermia treatment began in Germany 25 years ago, and is currently used in more than 25 countries. It is important to note that in Germany alone equipment has been installed in 4 hospitals and in more than 50 clinics working effectively. In addition, each year more than 100,000 treatments are performed worldwide.

The latest generation model in Oncothermia is: EHY-2000. Currently there are other models of devices, but they do not guarantee the results obtained and investigated by Dr. András Szász.

At the Barcelona Oncothermia Unit you will find the latest technology to offer you the best results.

Scientific publications: Oncothermia journal

Scientific publications: Oncothermia journal

Knowledge is a common good that must be shared and placed at the service of society. That is why scientific publications are an important dissemination tool. Paying special attention to treatments as particular as Oncothermia.

Oncological Nanotherapy or Oncothermia is a treatment known and accepted by many oncological specialists and institutions. And of which there are numerous clinical and observational studies in European and international hospitals, with proven and published results. All of them can be consulted in Oncothermia Journal. The articles can be found in electronic or printed version

More information

Also, if you need more information about clinical studies or other publications related to Oncothermia, you can visit the following link, where you will find an extensive list of them.

International Congress of Hyperthermic Oncology

International Congress of Hyperthermic Oncology

04/15/2016, New Orleans, United States

Hyperthermic Oncothermia is present internationally at congresses and conferences. Thus, in these scientific meetings, doctors give presentations to disseminate the results of clinical cases. Therefore, in this blog, we will inform about the events that take place, such as the following International Congress:

International Congress of Hyperthermic Oncology

Oncothermia is present internationally in congresses and conferences. In these scientific meetings doctors make presentations to disseminate the results of clinical cases. In this blog, we will inform about the events that take place.

On April 15, 2016 in New Orleans, United States, took place the International Congress of Hyperthermic Oncology (12th International Congress of Hyperthermic Oncology). In the United States, Hyperthermia is mainly applied in Oncology as a coadjuvant treatment. In the Congress presented results of the effect of Oncothermia with precise doses of radiotherapy (“Stereotaxis”) with excellent results.

Many interesting posters were presented. It is worthy of mention the presentations of: Dr. Michael Jackson of Canada and Dr. Heui-Kwan Lee of Korea.

  • Dr. Michael Jackson, et.a.:A preliminary in vitro evaluation of oncothermia on a normal and cancerous cell line.
  • Dr. Heui-Kwan Lee, et.al.: Iron-dextran as an ideal thermosensitizer in the radiofrequency-induced hyperthermia

Finally, if you want more information about the events related to Oncothermia treatment, you can visit the following website.