Journal Article
The role of capacitive hyperthermia as an adjunct treatment in oncology: a systematic review of randomized phase III trials.
International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group · December 1, 2026 · Krahl P
TL;DR
Systematic review of nine Phase III trials shows capacitive hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy improved tumor response and local control in some cancers (particularly cervical and head/neck), but not in non-small cell lung cancer. Treatment was well tolerated with mild to moderate adverse events.
Key findings
- Combination of capacitive hyperthermia with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy improved local control and overall survival in 3 of 5 cervical cancer trials
- Head and neck cancer trials demonstrated marked increase in tumor response rates with capacitive hyperthermia addition
- No benefit observed in non-small cell lung cancer trials or in a large multicenter cervical cancer trial
- Adverse events were mild to moderate with significant toxicities being rare
Why this matters at the bedside
Capacitive hyperthermia shows promise as adjunctive therapy for select tumor types (cervical and head/neck cancers) when combined with standard treatment, but evidence is mixed for deep-seated tumors and effectiveness varies by cancer type. Safety profile supports consideration in treatment planning.