Oncothermia - A Revolutionary Treatment for Lung Cancer

Oncothermia – A Revolutionary Treatment for Lung Cancer

Oncothermia
By Dr. Sharon Gurm

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in both Canadian men and women today. At first diagnosis, 56% of cases already show distant spread of the disease and 1-yr survival rates are 29.4%.

Long-term outlook for patients with advanced stage (IIIB/IV) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which comprises 75% of new cases, is dismal. In this group, chemotherapy and/or surgery is the standard treatment, with 9–12 month median survival. Newer treatments to treat the disease are critical to improve survival rates.

Oncothermia Improves Tumor Response to Chemo And Radiation

NSCLC is relatively resistant to chemotherapy. Modern lung cancer treatment is based on platinum-containing drugs such as carboplatin and cisplatin and more recently on gemcitabine, paclitaxel (Taxol and Doxitaxel), vinorelbine (Navelbine). In general, the median survival with such chemotherapy is 7 months.

Oncothermia (radio-frequency local-regional hyperthermia) causes tumor cells to be more sensitive to radiation and chemotherapy, thus when used concomitantly, Oncothermia is a feasible and successful treatment method for lung cancer with little to no side effects. Results of a phase II randomized clinical trial, published in the International Journal of Hyperthermia (2011) demonstrated radio-frequency regional hyperthermia in combination with chemotherapy (gemcitabine and cisplatin) is a safe, well-tolerated and effective therapeutic modality for patients with advanced NSCLC and improves quality of life. A summary of the outcomes:

√33 of 40 patients in the chemotherapy + hyperthermia group had a clinical benefit response
√19 in the control group (chemotherapy only)
√There were no differences in side effect profiles between the two groups

Oncothermia Improves Survival and Quality of Life in Lung Cancer

A review published by Professor Szaz last month provides a comparison of studies demonstrating the impact of Oncothermia on survival time in several types of pulmonary malignancies (NSCLC and SCLC) as well as the metastatic diseases of the pulmonary system. He provides data that demonstrate the effectiveness and limitations of traditional hyperthermia and the advantage of Oncothermia – one of the most advanced hyperthermia modalities devoted to oncology. The key advantage to Oncothermia is nano-range energy liberation instead of overall heating of the mass of the target.

The table below demonstrates the difference in advanced lung cancer outcomes for Oncothermia treatment groups and non-Oncothermia treatment groups. These were inoperable cases. Oncothermia was applied in 20 sessions, 60 minutes every other day. The remission rate and overall survival were significantly greater in the Oncothermia group. In addition, the Oncothermia treatment group showed statistically significant differences in quality of life functions, emotions, general conditions, pain, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, cough, hemoptysis (blood in sputum), and chest pain.

Oncothermia - A Revolutionary Treatment for Lung Cancer
Comparison of the local control in the two arms. CR, complete remission/response, PR, partial remission/response; SD, stable disease; PD, progressed disease.

A retrospective clinical study of NSCLC patients was performed by two hospitals in Budapest, clearly demonstrating feasibility and efficacy of Oncothermia for advanced cases. Collectively, data on Oncothermia and lung cancer shows valid treatment potential and safe application while increasing survival time and quality of life making Oncothermia a logical adjunctive treatment method for improving cancer outcomes.

Personalizing Cancer Treatment For Success

The optimization of Oncothermia requires a personalized treatment approach. Data collection on cancer outcomes using a comprehensive integrative approach to treatment is underway at 3 independent integrative cancer treatment clinics in Canada. This integrative and multi-modal approach combines nutritional support (orthomolecular treatments such as IV Ascorbate and Dichloroacetate), metabolic drug therapies (such as Metformin), Oncothermia and conventional therapies (radiation, chemotherapy and surgery). Preliminary results show promising survival trajectories for several types of cancer, including: gliblastoma multiforme, colorectal, pancreatic, breast, hepatocellular, ovarian, cervical and head/neck cancers. To learn more about Oncothermia, visit www.portmoodyhealth.com.

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