Hyperthermia
The Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC) is proud to be the only center in the world to offer hyperthermia and proton therapy at the same facility. Since the fall of 2018, MPTC has offered deep-tissue external hyperthermia as a potential way to boost survival chances for patients.
Hyperthermia works by heating the tumor tissue to moderate temperatures (between 104-110 degrees Fahrenheit), dilating the tumor blood vessels. This brings more oxygen into the tumor, which makes cancer cells more vulnerable to radiation therapy.
Prior to the introduction of deep-tissue hyperthermia at MPTC, superficial hyperthermia, was already in use by the Department of Oncology at the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMGCCC). It is highly recommended when treating breast cancer patients with chest wall reoccurrence, as well as other superficial or palpable cancers, especially occurring in an area of previous radiation.
However, unlike external hyperthermia, which targets cancers closer to the surface, MPTC’s deep-tissue therapy is able to treat cancers that are deeper in the body. This includes cancers of the abdominal and pelvic region, including those of the bladder, rectum, cervix, ovaries, pancreas and connective tissue, which are known as sarcomas.
Additional Hyperthermia Resource
Hyperthermia Fact Sheet: An overview of how hyperthermia works and its benefits
MPTC’s Hyperthermia Team
Physicians
Physicists
Nursing Coordinator
Molly Brady
Hyperthermia Clinical Observer Program
The Hyperthermia Clinical Observer Program is hosted by the University of Maryland School of Medicine Department of Radiation Oncology and was designed to provide healthcare professionals with an opportunity to broaden their knowledge and abilities under the guidance of globally recognized experts in the fields of hyperthermia therapy physics and medicine. To learn more, click here.
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