Combined chemo-radiation and hyperthermia for locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma: response and toxicity.

Background.- Evaluation of the primary effects and acute adverse reactions of combined chemo-radiation and hyperthermia for patients with locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma. Materials and Methods : Eight patients with locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma underwent a combination of radiation therapy continuous infusion of doxorubicin and once weekly hyperthermia. Results : Complete response was obtained in 2 patients and partial response in 3. Level 4 skin reaction was developed in 4 patients who had superficially located tumour. Treatment interruption more than three days was required in only one patient who developed level 4 pharyngitis. Five patients developed grade 3 leukopenia, 2 had grade 4 leukopenia requiring administration of haematopoietic growth factor. Two patients developed radiation pneumonitis which required steroid medication. No symptomatic cardiotoxicity was observed. There was no acute morbidity during the treatment. Conclusions : The intensive combination therapy provided good local responses or at least palliation for most of the patients entered without increasing treatment morbidity.