Experimental thermoradiotherapy of human tumour xenografts in nude mice; design of the hyperthermia system

Abstract

An experimental thermoradiotherapy study was started in 1986. For this study a hyperthermia system was developed for heating human tumours xenotransplanted into nude mice. The treatment device was a four-channel computer-controlled hyperthermia system. Temperature was monitored by microwave radiometry at 3 GHz. Specifictions of the radiometer were evaluated first under reference conditions. Subsequently, thermal dosimetry was studied using non-invasive measurement of brightness temperature, T_OR. Hyperthermia treatments were simulated in phantom material with radiometric monitor values, T_R, of 40 and 41. In conjunction with the parameters of T_OR, surface temperature, T₀, and water bolus temperature, T_W, thermal modelling was performed. Influence of a perfused phantom also was studied on microwave thermometry.

Key Words:

• Thermoradiotherapy
• microwve radiometry
• nude mice