Heating Preciosity—Trends in Modern Oncological Hyperthermia

The use of hyperthermia as a treatment in oncology is a common topic for debate. Some researchers expect a breakthrough in oncological treatments with hyperthermia, whereas others have disregarded the method. Serious questions concerning hyperthermia have arisen. Should homogeneous (isothermal) or heterogeneous (selective) heating being used? When we use selective heating (heterogeneity), should the entire tumour be targeted or should the malignant cells be individually selected? Does the mechanism involve thermal cell death or thermally-assisted cell death? Is the goal necrosis or apoptosis? Is hyperthermia safe as a monotherapy or does it have to be combined with conventional treatments? When the selection is local, how do we act on disseminated cells that represent a high risk of life threatening metastases? When local heating is the focus, how should it be carried out with measured and controlled? Our objective is to show how precise, selective heat transfer is necessary to remove malignant cells and, consequently, how hyperthermia as part of the immune-oncology can change the game in this promising field of oncological therapies.