Previous studies had reported that targeted heat therapy combined with radiation can effectively treat patients with recurrent breast and locally advanced cervical cancers.

According to a study presented at the ECCO-ESMO European cancer congress, heat treatment doubles the proportion of patients with soft tissues sarcomas (cancers in muscle, fat blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and supporting tissue around the joints) response to chemotherapy.

The treatment was not reported to increase the side effects of chemotherapy.

Regional hyperthermia, which uses focused electromagnetic energy to warm the tissue in and around the tumor, is believed not only to kill cancer cells, but also to make chemotherapy work better by making cancer cells more sensitive to the drug.

The treatment also improves blood flow in the tumor allowing chemotherapy to be more effective.

Scientists concluded that heat treatment can help lower the dose of chemotherapy drugs needed for tackling cancer.