History of hyperthermia (for cancer treatment)
The hypothesis that heat is effective for the treatment of diseases dates back to the era of Hippocrates. He believed that if heat was generated, he would be able to treat any disease using it, according to records, such as "Ramayama", an Indian book.
In 1866 of the late modern period, Busch, a German physician, confirmed tumor regressions in sarcoma patients who had developed erysipelas and a high fever, and developed the hypothesis that a body temperature higher than the normal level helps selectively eliminate cancer cells. Around 1900, Coley reported that cancer can be cured when bacteria that cause high fever are injected into patients.
However, we had to wait for progress in modern science and technology to provide effective heating treatment for cancer, rather than incidental recovery due to a high fever. Full-scale research activities in this field were initiated in 1975, when the first international symposium for heating and radiation cancer treatment was held in Washington, U.S.A.
"RF Hyperthermia Equipment - I" (1979)
In 1975, Tsutomu Sugahara, Professor of the Department of Experimental Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University in Japan, organized a research group, and has been conducting interdisciplinary research in physical engineering, biology, and clinical medicine. Upon request from Professor Sugahara, Yamamoto Vinita conducted research and developed "THERMOTRON-RF8" with the support of the Research Development Corporation of Japan. "THERMOTRON-RF8" was approved as a medical device for hyperthermia cancer treatment by the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare in 1984.
In 1985, this treatment method was adopted by the "system for sophisticated and advanced medicine”, and national health insurance coverage of electromagnetic hyperthermia combined with radiotherapy was approved in 1990.
At present, both single hyperthermia treatment and its combination with chemotherapy are covered by insurance.