Purpose: The purpose of this review was to explore the literature on the use of hyperthermia (HT) in advanced breast cancer.
Methods: A literature search was conducted to obtain information from recent trials of HT and/or chemotherapy (CH) and radiotherapy (RT) for patients with locally recurrent breast carcinoma. Issues concerned with patient compliance and side effects have also been reviewed and future recommendations for research made.
Results: Results of recent trials have demonstrated promising outcomes for HT and RT in combination, particularly for recurrent disease to improve local control (LC). There is no evidence, however, to support a positive effect on overall survival.
Conclusions: Despite positive results HT has not been widely embraced, due to financial and logistical limitations. Future recommendations include larger, randomised, controlled studies and the development of temperature mapping to avoid potentially limiting HT blisters.
