Hyperthermia is used as a direct or auxiliary treatment method for numerous diseases. Heat therapy, moxibustion, and hot bathing methods that we use on a daily basis also fall within the broad scope of heat therapy. A primary example of hyperthermia therapy can be high-frequency (frequency of 100,000 Hz or higher) hyperthermia cancer treatment that is performed for the treatment of cancer patients. High-frequency hyperthermia cancer treatment is a treatment that applies heat to cancerous tissue using high-frequency waves to suppress cancer cell proliferation and induce cancer cells to self-destruct. When high-frequency hyperthermia cancer treatment is combined with radiation and chemotherapy, the treatment effect can be increased, and it can be effectively used even in patients whose cancer has progressed or when cancer cells have penetrated deep into the organs. Director Song Jae-hyeon of Suwon Sarang Clinic said, “By increasing the heat of cancerous tissue through high-frequency treatment, direct cancer treatment is possible by degenerating and necrotizing cancer cells.” He added, “Many other advantages, such as reduction of side effects and pain and immune effects, have also been discovered. Therefore, hyperthermia is being applied to many cancer treatments,” he said.

◇Removes only cancer cells without damaging normal cells

When heat is applied to the body, normal cells dissipate the heat through blood circulation as surrounding blood vessels expand. On the other hand, cancer cells have fewer connected blood vessels and a lower ability to expand blood vessels, so they gradually become necrotic without being able to dissipate heat. The survival rate of normal cells decreases when the temperature exceeds 42 degrees for more than 50 minutes, but cancer cells suffer damage as the heat stress on their cell membranes weakens even when temperatures are only 38.5 to 42 degrees.

High-frequency hyperthermia cancer treatment is a treatment that uses these characteristics to help eliminate cancer cells without damaging normal cells. When a high-frequency current is delivered to the body, molecules vibrate, rotate, and generate frictional heat in cells, and whenever the direction of the current changes, deep heat is generated. Deep heat is heat generated deep within the body, and unlike other forms of current, high-frequency current does not stimulate sensory and motor nerves and can generate deep heat while minimizing side effects. The effectiveness of high-frequency medical devices is divided depending on how much the core heat can be increased. If heat is applied from the outside in a general way, the epidermal temperature increases first, and the device cannot be operated until the cell temperature rises. Director Song Jae-hyun said, "Currently, hyperthermia based on high frequency is the most widely used method of increasing deep heat. If a high current flows through high frequency waves, there can be burns or fat deformation being formed, but data on such side effects is very low." He explained.

Currently, in Korea, Over 300 medical institutions, including university hospitals and nursing hospitals, use high-frequency hyperthermia cancer treatment. Recently, technology has also developed to better transmit and utilize high-frequency heat to the body. Director Song Jae-hyun said, "While we first confirmed the effectiveness of high-frequency hyperthermia cancer treatment in removing cancer cells, recent research and development have progressed to the level of activating immunity. As technology is ameliorated, better effects are appearing." “The number of medical institutions using high-frequency hyperthermia cancer treatment is expected to increase in the future,” he said.

Source: https://health.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2021/01/19/2021011902179.html