Balapur

Researchers are evaluating the safety and effectiveness of adding hyperthermia treatment to standard radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy for patients with various locally advanced cancers, including head and neck, cervix, breast, esophagus, and anorectal cancers. This registry trial takes place at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in a rural area of India, where cancer patients face poor prognosis and limited resources. The study aims to explore a cost-effective and low-morbidity approach to improve outcomes for these patients using hyperthermia, which involves heating tumors to 40-43°C to enhance the effects of other cancer treatments. Hyperthermia is delivered using a repurposed short wave diathermy machine operating at 27.1 MHz. Treatment is given once or twice a week for 60 to 90 minutes depending on patient tolerance, alongside the usual radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy protocols. The trial collects uniform observational data on the safety and effectiveness of this combined approach, focusing on tumor control, disease-free survival, and overall survival. Participants will undergo regular assessments including evaluations of acute and late side effects, kidney and liver function tests, and clinical follow-up. Researchers will monitor locoregional tumor control at 3 months post-treatment and track disease-free and overall survival over about one year. The study also assesses how well the hyperthermia treatment can be implemented in a cost-effective way using the repurposed device. Total participation duration varies based on treatment and follow-up schedules.