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Colon, Rectal and Anal Cancer
Cancer of the large bowel is collectively called colorectal cancer, and includes cancer of the colon, rectum and anus. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States with over 125,000 new cases and approximately 50,000 deaths each year. The incidence rate of new cases has decreased significantly due to several factors, most importantly earlier screening, and detection. As a result, and because of improved treatment options, the death rate from colorectal cancer in the United States has decreased by about 25%.
Most colorectal cancers arise from polyps, specifically adenomatous polyps. A polyp is a mass of abnormal cells on the surface of the colon or rectum. Polyps can be classified as non-cancerous such as neoplastic hamartoma, a hyperplastic polyp, or an adenomatous polyp. In general, adenomatous adenomas are considered premalignant (can turn into cancer), and although common, only a small percentage (<1%) of adenomatous polyps evolve into cancer.
Up to 25% of patients with colorectal cancer have a family history of the disease, suggesting a hereditary pre-disposition. In addition to heredity, there are other factors like diet, smoking, and diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease that can increase risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Depending on the location of the tumor, symptoms can vary from no symptoms to a variety of different symptoms. These include chronic slow blood loss that cannot be seen with the naked eye; more rapid and obvious blood loss; or obstruction with decreased, and in some cases, inability to pass stool accompanied with abdominal pain.
Treatment for colorectal cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and newer biologic targeted therapy. Like so many other cancers, the initial stage correlates strongly with the risk of recurrence, as well as the choice and outcome of treatments. The earlier colorectal cancer is diagnosed, the more likely it can be cured.
How hyperthermia therapy works
The application of hyperthermia to a tumor can have numerous positive effects on cancer cells. Heat disrupts cell membranes and increases blood flow to the tumor, making the tumor more sensitive and vulnerable both to your body’s natural immune defenses and to other cancer therapies.
Hyperthermia therapy benefits include:
- Increases blood flow to tumors creating a high-oxygen environment, which makes radiation therapy work better
- Allows for chemotherapy to penetrate deep into the center of the tumor where it otherwise has difficulty reaching
- Can stimulate an immune response reaction within the tumor improving your body’s ability to fight cancer
Studies demonstrate the effectiveness of hyperthermia in
patients who have cancer of the colon, rectum, and anus.
Hyperthermia performs well in several studies
Hyperthermia can be added to the colon, rectal and anal cancer treatment plan at any time. Multiples studies demonstrate the effectiveness of hyperthermia in patients who have cancer of the colon, rectum, and anus.
Optimally, hyperthermia treatment is initiated as soon as the patient begins receiving radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Improving your therapeutic regimen leads to the best outcome. For all patients, the goal is to choose the right therapy or combination of therapies that lead to the best outcome while minimizing side effects.
Hyperthermia often has no or minimal side effects and has no known adverse effects on normal tissue. Adding hyperthermia can maximize the effectiveness of your therapeutic regimen without risking sensitive surrounding organs. This means surrounding bowel, liver, or other nearby or affected organs are not adversely affected by adding hyperthermia to your colorectal cancer treatment plans.
Overall survival at 5 years after treatment of rectal
cancer increased with the addition of hyperthermia
We treat all stages and types of colon, rectal and anal cancer
- Early-stage cancer of the colon, rectum, or anus
- Locally advanced cancer of the colon, rectum, or anus (spread to lymph nodes or organs around the colon)
- Metastatic cancer of the colon, rectum, or anus (spread to distant organs)
- Recurrent cancer of the colon, rectum, or anus
What we do
- Target the tumor
- Do not put fragile healthy tissues surrounding bowel, liver, or other nearby or affected organs at risk
- Improve the effectiveness of radiation and/or systemic therapy
Contact us as soon as possible after your colon, rectal or anal cancer diagnosis. We can help to develop a treatment plan that will optimize your overall treatment results and outcomes.
Selected hyperthermia and colon, rectal and anal cancer studies
- Clinical outcomes of mild hyperthermia for locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiochemotherapy.
- Regional hyperthermia added to intensified preoperative chemo-radiation in locally advanced adenocarcinoma of middle and lower rectum.
- Thermoradiotherapy of patients with locally advanced carcinoma of the rectum.
- Apoptosis induced by hyperthermia and verapamil in vitro in a human colon cancer cell line.
- Hyperthermia in combination with oxidative stress induces autophagic cell death in HT-29 colon cancer cell.
- Preoperative treatment of rectal cancer with radiation, chemotherapy and hyperthermia: analysis of treatment efficacy and heat-shock response.
- Comparison of radiotherapy alone with radiotherapy plus hyperthermia in locally advanced pelvic tumours: a prospective, randomized, multicentre trial.
- Reirradiation and hyperthermia in rectal carcinoma: a retrospective study on palliative effect.
- Regional pelvic hyperthermia as an adjunct to chemotherapy (oxaliplatin, folinic acid, 5-fluorouracil) in pre-irradiated patients with locally recurrent rectal cancer: a pilot study.