ESHO 2–85. Hyperthermia as an adjuvant to radiation therapy in the treatment of advanced neck nodes: A randomized multicenter study by the European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology

Sixty-four tumors in 54 patients were evaluable, with a median observation of 17 months. Thirty-four tumors were randomized to RT alone and 30 to RT+HT. Compliance with RT was good. HT was associated with moderate to severe pain and discomfort in 38% of the treatments. In 57% of the heated patients at least one treatment achieved the target temperature. HT did not significantly increase radiation morbidity. The complete response rate was 53% in the RT versus 80% in the RT+HT group, and 3-year persistent local control rate was 32% for RT alone versus 53% for RT+HT; HR: 0.48 [0.23-0.98]. The ESHO 2-85 study demonstrated that addition of a weekly HT treatment to RT of advanced neck nodes significantly enhanced the persistent tumor control. The results substantiate the potential clinical benefit of hyperthermic oncology.