Thermotherapy in addition to SOC palliative radiotherapy
Research type
Research Study
Full title
ThermoRad wIRA study: Prospective study to assess the real-world implementation of Thermotherapy using wIRA (water-filtered infrared A superficial hyperthermia) in addition to standard of care (SOC) palliative Radiotherapy (RT) in patients with inoperable or incurable cancers
IRAS ID
327431
Contact name
Anthony Kong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King’s College London
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, months, days
Research summary
This is a study that involves delivering heat treatment (thermotherapy or hyperthermia) in combination with radiotherapy (RT). Heat therapy (HT) is defined as an elevation of tissue or body temperature, and it can be used as a cancer treatment method due to the profound effect that heat has on cells. In this study, HT will be used alongside RT to enhance the effect of RT. Treatment will involve heating the tumour and the surrounding area using a specialised machine, a water-filtered infra-red-A (wIRA) superficial HT machine.
HT has been shown to make cancer cells more sensitive to other cancer treatments such as RT, chemotherapy and immunotherapy and is currently in use in multiple cancer centres across Europe and Switzerland but not in the UK. Guy's Cancer centre is the first in the UK to acquire this CE marked superficial wIRA hyperthermia machine. Our aim is to assess the real-world implementation of HT using wIRA in combination with RT in patients with cancers that are suitable for superficial hyperthermia treatment.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/SC/0146
Date of REC Opinion
8 May 2024
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion