Whole-body hyperthermia combined with hyperfractionated irradiation of the thorax in dog: Acute physiological response

Whole-body hyperthermia has potential as an adjuvant treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy for diseases such as lung cancer which require both local and systemic control. The acute toxicity of whole-body hyperthermia combined with whole-thorax irradiation was studied in dogs. Twentyeight dogs received three 2-h whole-body hyperthermia (WBH) treatments at 42.0°C deep rectal temperature. Twenty-four of these dogs were also randomized to receive radiation doses of 18, 22 5, 27, 31-5, 40.5 or 45 Gy. Irradiation was given in 1 a5 Gy fractions over 6 weeks. Three WBH treatmens were given to 28 dogs with all dogs surviving treatment. WBH was given on days 1, 22 and 40 of the 6-week interval. Thirty-one dogs received radiation doses of 18-49.5 Gy without WBH. Deep rectal temperature was maintained at 41.9 ±0.3°C over 2 h with an average of 20 min outside the chamber for irradiation. Two dogs required intervention with emergency medications during WBH treatment. One of the two dogs developed permanent ...