Oncothermia
Oncothermia is the most up-to-date evolution of hyperthermia (scientific name: modulated electro hyperthermia, mEHT). Oncothermia differs from other primary therapies in that it stimulates the immune system against cancer, while all other therapies suppress it.
It is a recognized medical practice in all European Union countries, the United States and all medically advanced countries. Source: Cancer Therapy
How does oncothermia work?
Source: oncotherm (device manufacturer)
Oncothermia is based on the principle of energy absorbtion with an electric field. A capacitive arrangement of two electrodes and the amplifier generate a modulated electromagnetic field with a carrier frequency of 13.56 MHz. Since malignant tissue has higher conductivity than the healthy host’s tissue, the electric field tends to concentrate predominantly in the malignant lesion. The combination of the deep heating – by the radiofrequency passing through the body, and with the focused electric field, – could stimulate the immune system, trigger tumorspecific immune reactions all over the body, and cause the programmed cell-death (apoptosis) of the selected malignant-cells.
Double action Oncothermia destroys cancer cells in tumours
Source: canceractive.com
Over 200,000 treatments have taken place on solid tumour cancers from lung cancer to prostate cancer, and breast cancer to metastases in organs. It ‘works’ on its own or in conjunction with conventional treatments such as chemotherapy.
Two treatments in one
1. Hyperthermia, which is recognised by the National Cancer Institute as a complementary therapy where the body temperature is increased making cancer cells weaker and more sensitive to increase the uptake and performance of chemotherapy drugs. The National Cancer Institute in America states that ‘Hyperthermia is a non-invasive treatment which can help shrink cancer tumours. It is especially helpful as a complementary therapy to chemotherapy and radiotherapy’.
Whole body hyperthermia as a way of sensitising cancer cells is a complementary therapy recommended on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Website.
2. Electric field energy absorption, at a controlled dose into the extra-cellular liquid around a tumour, is known to destroy the membrane of cancer cells causing cancer cell death. Electric Field use on cancer cells developed out of an increasing knowledge of membrane science. Membranes around cells have their own electric differential across them, and their own electrical conductivity.
What happens in the treatment ?
The patient lies on a special bed – the fixed half pf the device. A plate – the mobile half of the device – is then lowered over the tumour area.
The treatment uses an electric field and focussed heat. A frequency of 13.56 MHz delivers energy directly to the cancer tumour.
It can be used on its own or in conjunction with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. It can also be used with Insulin Potentiation Therapy.
Over 200,000 treatments have taken place so far using oncothermia worldwide.
There are phase II and phase III clinical trials using the device to improve chemotherapy results by sensitising the cancer cells, weakening them, and increasing the effectiveness of the drugs. Research has also shown that oncothermia enhances the effects of drugs especially those used to stop blood vessel formation to tumours (angiogenesis).
It is also highly useful in situations where there are metastases to bones and other organs.
Interestingly, oncothermia also re-activates tumour suppressor genes, such as p53, silenced in most cancers; and it simulates fever heat production causing a strong immune response.
It can be used with any solid tumour cancer such as colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and brain cancer, and is particularly useful with metastases where they cause pain. There are numerous clinical references on the treatment (1).
You cannot be treated if you have any metal implant.
Oncothermia reduces metastases in prostate cancer
The current use of Oncothermia
The treatment is widely used in German clinics and has also been approved by ‘Health Canada’. Clinics there refer to it as Modulated Electro-Hyperthermia, and use the Oncothermia EHY-2000 device. When the oncothermia device is used the treatment may also be called Loco-Regional Hyperthermia, or LRHT.
By 2017 over 400 devices were in use to treat cancer in hospitals worldwide. Although a large number are found in Germany, the devices are found in countries from Canada to China. 100,000 treatments are given last year and almost all cancers from lung cancer (2) to colorectal cancer can be treated. New research is looking into its use with brain cancer and particularly glioma (GBM), since chemotherapy options currently deliver poorly. In particular, it is highly effective in situations where there is metastatic disease.
The treatment can be used on its own, but more often it is used to support conventional treatments and even other treatments such as Photodynamic Therapy. It is very useful for pain relief and increases the immune response in the body.
Oncothermia increases survival
This 2023 study says:
Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) is a heating therapy that uses synergized thermal and nonthermal effects to heat and destroy malignant cells selectively without damaging healthy cells.
The success of the mEHT therapy of advanced, relapsed, and metastatic tumors has had multiple clinical studies. Some studies have double-arm comparisons, including a Phase III randomized, prospective controlled one for the uterus and cervix. The comparisons show a significant increase in survival time. The Kaplan–Meier survival plots were compared for the single-arm studies. The different studies at various institutes’ and times showed significant correspondence, and the data could be pooled, which increases the evidence level of these observational studies. These clearly show the survival advantage of mEHT. We may conclude that mEHT significantly increases overall survival and the quality of life; consequently, it is a feasible treatment for the presented malignant tumors.
This 2021 study says:
Our present oncological treatment arsenal has limited treatment options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Extended reviews have shown the benefits of hyperthermia for PDAC, supporting the perspectives with the improvements of the treatment possibilities.
Conclusion: mEHT treatment was associated with improved overall survival in PDAC in our single-center retrospective case-control study. The outcome measures encourage us to design a randomized prospective clinical study to further confirm the efficiency of mEHT in this patient cohort.
Lung Cancer – improved survival
This study Current Status of Oncothermia Therapy for Lung Cancer concluded:Our present paper showed a strong indication on the oncothermia benefit to treat pulmonary malignances. The results clearly indicate the feasibility and the benefit of the oncothermia treatment for both SCLC[small-cell lung cancer] and NSCLC [non small-cell lung cancer] for a number of reasons:
1) oncothermia showed valid treatment potential and safe application;
2) the survival time was increased by oncothermia for the patients;
3) oncothermia increased the quality of life of the patients;
4) due to the limited effectiveness of the established therapies, oncothermia could be one of the important future methods to improve our treatment facilities.
Glioblastoma – improved survival using Oncothermia and Tumor-Treating Fields
This 2023 Meta Analysis says:
In conclusion, this study investigated the beneficial effects of (concomitant) mEHT [oncothermia] and TTF [tumor-treating fields] over conventional chemoradiotherapy in glioblastoma. It was found that both mEHT and TTF could significantly increase the survival of glioblastoma patients and the same survival rates can be achieved using both devices in the cohorts of newly diagnosed and recurrent glioblastomas. It has to be emphasized, however, that the small number of centers using mEHT largely limits its application, and there is no data about the combined use of the two devices, therefore, further studies are recommended.
Where can I be treated with Oncothermia?
Neuro-Oncology Care Welbeck Hospital, London, UK
(uses it to treat Brain Cancer)
The Quantum Clinic Sussex, UK
Synthesis Clinic, Reading, UK
Full list of clinics in Europe
Page updated March 2025