Biological Rationale of Interstitial Thermoradiotherapy

The biological rationale of interstitial thermoradiotherapy is based on the complementary actions of hyperthermia and radiation when combined for cancer therapy. As will be reviewed in following chapters, there is significant in vitro and in vivo evidence to suggest interstitial heat and radiation have synergistic interactions. Optimal clinical application of interstitial thermoradiotherapy depends on the essential biological interactions, the physics, and the practical implementation of interstitial thermoradiotherapy. To date, clinical studies using hyperthermia and radiation have yielded mixed results. This is related to variation between studies with regard to doses, timing of treatments, and technical differences. Defining consistent thermal dosimetry and uniform clinical end-points has also complicated results.