Carcinoma

Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer. They consist of epithelial cells, which are the cells that line the inner and outer parts of the body. There are many types of epithelial cells. When viewed under a microscope, carcinoma cells look like small columns.

Carcinomas have different names depending on the type of epithelial cell where they start.

Tag Archive for: Carcinoma

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.

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.

Elevated apoptosis in a radioresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line

Elevated apoptosis and tumor stem cell destruction in a radioresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line

A recent study presented by Gertrud Farika, from the 1st Department of  Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. It deals with elevated apoptosis and tumor stem cell destruction in a radioresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line when radiotherapy is combined with modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT- Oncothermia)

Malignant exocrine tumors of the pancreas are among the worst to respond to oncotherapy. Despite sophisticated guidelines and new targeted therapies, the 5-year survival rate of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinomas is under 10%. The most critical factor responsible for this is the high resistance of the tumor cells to the available chemo- or radiotherapies.

Oncothermia (Modulated electro-hyperthermia – mEHT) is a complementary non-invasive cancer treatment using impedance-coupled radiofrequency to generate selective heat of <42°C causing cell stress and destruction in malignant tissue. In this study, we tested the combination of radiotherapy with Oncothermia in a radioresistant pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line Panc1.

Methods

The study was organizated in 4 groups:

  • control (C)
  • Oncothermia treated for 60 min (mEHT)
  • irradiated with 2 Gy using 137Cs (R)
  • combination treatment: irradiation followed by the same dose of Oncothermia (Oncothermia +R)

Results

Visible morphological changes were observed after 24 hours in the treated groups. An elevated number of apoptotic bodies and cell number loss were appeared. Compared to the control group, the apoptotic ratio was the highest in the Oncothermia +R group and significant elevation was measured also in the Oncothermia group. ALDH+ tumor stem cells decreased significantly after Oncothermia and Oncothermia +R treated groups compared to the control.

As it was expected the irradiated group showed the same amount
of CSC cells as the control group (due to well-known radioresistance of the cell line). The CSCs colony forming capacity was also significantly lower in the Oncothermia and Oncothermia +R group compared to the control group. Furthermore, H2Axγ and calreticulin positive cell fractions, indicating DNA double strand-brakes and ER-stress, respectively, were also significantly increased in the Oncothermia and the Oncothermia +R treated groups.

Apoptosis with Oncothermia

Oncothermia treatment alone can lead to massive apoptosis in Panc1 cells by inducing cell stress and DNA double-strand break. Irradiation alone caused some necrosis but without major effect on CSCs. The combined treatment significantly improved the efficacy of radiotherapy resulting in major apoptosis and reduction of CSCs despite of the inherent radioresistance of Pan1.

This study was funded by a grant of the National Research and Innovation Office.

For more information, you can access the original study in the following link.

Ascending colon cancer treated with Oncothermia and Chemotherapy

Ascending colon cancer treated with Oncothermia and Chemotherapy

The following is the clinical case of a 63-year-old male patient. The diagnosis is ascending colon cancer with liver metastases. He was treated with chemotherapy, combined with oncothermia.

Diagnosis

In November 2016, he presented with an ascending colon neoplasm. Consequently, he underwent a right hemicolectomy. As a result, the biopsy showed infiltrating adenocarcinoma.

Subsequently, in January 2017, she presented with elevated CEA. A CT scan revealed mesenteric and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy. Multiple liver metastases were also observed, the largest measuring 35 mm.

Treatment

Immediately, in February 2017, he started treatment with chemotherapy (FOLFOX) and 4 sessions of 90-minute oncothermia.

The CT scan of April 2017 showed resolution of the mesenteric and retroperitoneal adenopathies. There was also a significant decrease in the multiple liver metastases, the largest being 14 mm.

Result

Finally a normalisation of tumour markers is detected.

If you wish, you can find more information about colon cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.

Breast Cancer treated with Chemotherapy and Oncothermia

Breast Cancer treated with Chemotherapy and Oncothermia

The following is the clinical case of a 51 year old female patient. The diagnosis is infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the left breast. She was treated with chemotherapy, combined with oncothermia.

Diagnosis

She presented in May 2016 with breast cancer, infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the left breast. Consequently, the MRI shows multiple and extensive irregular confluent foci. In addition, the cancer forms a mass measuring 79 mm x 52 mm x 58 mm extending to the nipple-areola complex with infiltration of the dermis.

Treatment

In June 2016 she started chemotherapy with Paclitaxel and Trastuzumab. Subsequently, in August 2016, oncothermia treatment was started, with 60-minute sessions.

Result

In October 2016 a breast MRI is performed for control, after the administration of 9 sessions of chemotherapy and 6 sessions of 60-minute oncothermia.

The result of the MRI shows disappearance of the tumour mass indicating a complete response to treatment.

Consequently, the patient refuses surgical treatment as there is no tumour mass and continues with radiological controls. In October 2018 the patient has shown no signs of recurrence.

If you wish, you can find more information about breast cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.

Pancreatic Cancer treated with Oncothermia, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

Pancreatic Cancer treated with Oncothermia, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy

The following is a case report of a 72 year old female patient. The diagnosis is pancreatic cancer. She was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, combined with oncothermia.

Diagnosis

She presented in March 2017 with a 4 cm tumour in the neck of the pancreas. In particular, the biopsy shows adenocarcinoma.

Treatment

He could not be resected surgically and started chemotherapy with Folfirinox together with 10 sessions of 90 minutes of Oncothermia.

Subsequently, in July 2017, a control CT scan was performed, showing a tumour reduction of 50%. He then started treatment with radiotherapy plus 10 sessions of 90-minute oncothermia.

Result

A new CT scan in June 2018 showed tumour stability with Ca 19-9 CEA tumour markers within normal limits.

If you wish, you can find more information about pancreatic cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.

Rectal cancer treated with oncothermia and surgery

Rectal Cancer treated with Oncothermia and Surgery

The following is a case report of a 67 year old male patient. The diagnosis is rectal cancer. He was treated with oncothermia and surgery.

Diagnosis

He presented with rectal adenocarcinoma in February 2018. In particular, it is a tumour 6 cm from the anal margin occupying one third of the intestinal lumen. In addition, the ultrasound scan showed serosal involvement, and it was classified as stage III.

Treatment

Preoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy are recommended to reduce the tumour volume and perform surgical resection.

In this case, the patient categorically rejects chemotherapy and radiotherapy. On the contrary, he decided to start treatment with Oncothermia, with the aim of reducing the tumour volume and undergoing surgery.

He underwent 20 sessions of 90-minute oncothermia for 2 months, with a frequency of 3 sessions per week.

Result

Ultrasound endoscopy in May 2018 showed a T1 polypoid lesion. In September 2018 he underwent endoanal resection of the polypoid lesion with all the margins of the piece free of tumour.

If you wish, you can find more information about rectal cancer treated with Oncothermia on our website at this link.