The synergistic effect of local microwave hyperthermia and chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent breast cancer

: The purpose of our study was to test the efficacy and toxicity of hyperthermia in conjunction with chemotherapy for breast cancer. Between 2009 and 2014, 6 patients diagnosed with breast carcinoma were selected for this retrospective study. Patients received standard chemotherapy (AC followed by paclitaxel ) in combination with hyperthermia. The hyperthermia device employed microwave heating with water loaded and water-cooled waveguides. The temperature was monitored subcutaneously in the skin under the aperture of the waveguide. Following hyperthermia therapy, 4 patients had a partial response to treatment and the toxicity was mild, consisting of Grade 1 acute skin toxicity. Therefore, hyperthermia combined with chemotherapy for breast cancer seems to be effective and generally tolerable. A larger patient cohort is needed to confirm these results.