Clinical research into hyperthermia as an adjunctive cancer therapy has developed gradually since the mid-20th century. Today it is most often combined with radiation therapy or chemotherapy, and its scope of use varies by country regulations and cancer type.
How did this concept develop?
The idea of using heat to address physical ailments has been recorded since ancient times, but applying heating specifically to cancer treatment research largely began in the mid-to-late 20th century. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), larger-scale clinical research into hyperthermia began emerging in the 1970s and 1980s, with medical centers across Europe and North America progressively investing in related technology development and trials.
What does current use generally look like?
- Most often used as an adjunct to radiation therapy or chemotherapy, not as a replacement for standard treatment
- The scope of research and clinical use varies by country regulatory approval, device-approved indications, and cancer type
- Some applications remain at the stage of ongoing clinical research
The actual approved indications and scope of use for hyperthermia vary by country, device model, and regulatory review outcome. This page is a general history and applications overview only and does not represent the Taiwan-approved indications of any specific medical device.
Why did different hyperthermia technologies emerge?
To address different tumor locations, depths, and treatment goals, the clinical and engineering fields have developed local, regional, and whole-body heating approaches over time. See Types & Technology for details. The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) educational materials use this same categorization by heating range, to help patients and families understand where different technologies apply.
Is hyperthermia a new treatment?
As a research direction in adjunctive cancer treatment, hyperthermia has decades of clinical research history and is not a recently emerged concept. However, the approval status of individual technologies and devices continues to be updated, and actual availability should be confirmed against local regulatory approval records.
Last updated: 2026-08-16 | Sources: Publicly available educational materials from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and American Cancer Society (ACS). If content differs from the latest research, the latest publicly available information takes precedence — please also consult your care team.