Using moderate whole body hyperthermia to improve cancer treatment response

Moderate Whole-body Hyperthermia in Tumor Patients: Influence on Circulating Tumor Cells, Tumor Response, Quality of Life, Fatigue, Psyche, Immune Response and Tumor Microenvironment

Phase 2 Interventional Charite University, Berlin, Germany · NCT05821166

This study is testing if using moderate heat on the whole body can help people with advanced cancer respond better to their regular treatments and improve their overall well-being.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment80 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 100 Years
SexAll
SponsorCharite University, Berlin, Germany Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, doxorubicin
Locations1 site (Berlin)
Trial IDNCT05821166 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effects of moderate whole-body hyperthermia (mWBH) on patients with advanced cancer. The study aims to evaluate how mWBH influences circulating tumor cells, tumor response, quality of life, fatigue, psychological well-being, immune response, and the tumor microenvironment. Patients will undergo mWBH in conjunction with their standard oncological treatments, and the outcomes will be measured three months after therapy. The trial seeks to clarify the mechanisms of action of mWBH and its potential benefits in oncology.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include patients with advanced cancer in a palliative setting, such as those with malignant melanoma, pancreatic cancer, or hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage cancer or those not eligible for multimodal treatment may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments and improve patients' quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been positive preclinical findings regarding mWBH, this study represents a novel clinical evaluation of its benefits in oncology.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* The general condition of the patients must be sufficient for multimodal treatment (corresponding to WHO status 0-2)
* Tumordisease in a palliative setting of the following 6 groups:

  1. Malignant melanoma, treatment-naive stage IV with multiple metastases and missing BRAF-V600 mutation. With indication for initiation of immunotherapy using PD-1 and CTLA-4 antibody therapy.
  2. Patients with metastatic or inoperable pancreatic cancer, who are planning first-line chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX is.
  3. Patients with an indication for palliative radiation therapy extracranial, tumor manifestation with a prescribed radiation dose of 30 to 36 Gy due to hormone receptor-positive carcinoma of the breast, patients must have at least one additional (marker) lesion not treated with radiation.
  4. Patients with metastatic high-grade sarcoma for whom metastasis-directed ablative therapy methods are not possible and palliative first-line therapy with doxorubicin.
  5. Patients with metastatic or loco-regionally recurrent HPV-associated squamous cell carcinoma (of the head and neck region, cervix, anus or vulva) for whom local therapies are not possible and for whom palliative first-line therapy containing platinum is planned.
  6. Patients with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer, with progressive disease after exceeding the recommended therapy options for which a therapy attempt with lutetium-177-PSMA was indicated.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of contraindications to simultaneous chemotherapy or whole-body hyperthermia
* Serious or active comorbidities that could interfere with treatment or understanding of the nature and content of the study, for example:

  * Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
  * Acute infections
  * Serious cardiovascular or pulmonary comorbidities
  * Mental illnesses, showing the proper Study participation or recording the nature of the study to make impossible
  * Presence of cerebral metastasis
  * Diabetes mellitus with risk of end-organ damage

Where this trial is running

Berlin

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Oncology
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.