Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41228320›Full record

ArticleCancers2025

Neoadjuvant Radiochemotherapy Combined with Locoregional Hyperthermia in Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer: Feasibility and Tolerance of Short-Course Versus Long-Course Radiotherapy Schedules.

Laura Ferrera-Alayón, Bárbara Salas-Salas, Antonio Alayón-Afonso, Miguel Sánchez Carrascal, Laura López Molina, Rafael Alexis Hernández Santana, Hans Crezee, Marta Lloret Sáez-Bravo

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Laura Ferrera-AlayónDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dr Negrín Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Bárbara Salas-SalasDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dr Negrín Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Antonio Alayón-AfonsoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dr Negrín Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Miguel Sánchez CarrascalDepartment of Medical Physics, University Hospital Dr Negrín Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Laura López MolinaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dr Negrín Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Rafael Alexis Hernández SantanaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dr Negrín Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.
Hans CrezeeDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Cancer Center Amsterdam, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-7474-0533
Marta Lloret Sáez-BravoDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Dr Negrín Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Barranco de la Ballena s/n, 35010 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIntegrating deep regional hyperthermia (HT) with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) may enhance treatment efficacy in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), yet feasibility and tolerance data remain scarce for both short-course (SCRT) and long-course (LCRT) radiotherapy (RT) regimens.

methodsIn this single-center prospective observational study, 67 LARC patients received neoadjuvant RT and chemotherapy (CT) combined with deep radiative HT using a phased-array system (ALBA 4D). Patients treated with SCRT (5 × 5 Gy) were prescribed two HT sessions; those treated with LCRT (25 × 2 Gy) were prescribed ten. HT planning was guided by dedicated software, and real-time thermometry ensured precise thermal delivery. Feasibility was defined as completion of ≥50% of prescribed sessions. Tolerance and toxicity were assessed with standardized clinical scales (QMHT, UMC, CTCAE v4.03).

resultsHT was feasible in both groups: 100% of SCRT and 63.6% of LCRT patients completed ≥50% of prescribed sessions. In total, 243 sessions were delivered. Most symptoms were mild and transient, predominantly localized pain. No grade ≥3 HT-related toxicities occurred. All scheduled RT and surgery proceeded without delay. Median T50 was 40.3 °C (SCRT) and 40.4 °C (LCRT); the median RT-to-HT interval was 42 min in both groups.

conclusionThis first Spanish experience shows that deep radiative HT can be seamlessly integrated into both SCRT and LCRT neoadjuvant protocols for rectal cancer. High adherence, favorable tolerance, and reliable thermal control support clinical implementation. Any between-schedule observations are descriptive only; no formal comparative testing was performed. The study was not designed or powered to establish comparative effectiveness between SCRT and LCRT, and the sample size was insufficient to detect rare HT-specific adverse events.

Indexed as

deep hyperthermiafeasibility studylocally advanced rectal cancerlong-course radiotherapyneoadjuvant chemoradiotherapyradiative hyperthermiareal-time thermometryshort-course radiotherapythermal dosetreatment tolerance

Identifiers

PMID41228320
PMCPMC12609664

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.