IRCA and INMOA, two Spanish clinics that are pioneers in establishing the combination of these two techniques as treatment in patients with recurrent head and neck tumors
The Medical Institute of Advanced Oncology (INMOA) and the Institute of Advanced Radiosurgery (IRCA) have become the first centers to offer, thanks to their innovative technologies, a standard treatment based on the combination of radiotherapy with ZAP-X and hyperthermia-electro modulated (oncothermia) to cancer patients with recurrences of head and neck tumors.
In the Head and neck tumors (pharynx, larynx, tongue, nasopharynx, tonsil, cavum…) it is frequent that, in case of having a recurrence (the tumor that reappears), it is localized: where it was in the original area and/or in the areas nearby. The ideal treatment in many of these cases would be radiotherapy, but since many patients have already received radiotherapy previously, they cannot be treated again with high doses of radiation as they would have intolerable side effects, so this is usually dismissed in most cases. occasions.
INMOA electromodulated hyperthermia increases intratumoral oxygenation, and this, in turn, increases the efficacy of radiotherapy without increasing its side effects. IRCA’s innovative ZAP-X technology offers patients great benefits in their treatment such as high precision, which makes it easier to reduce possible side effects.
If we combine both technologies, we unite a more effective radiotherapy with less high and highly precise doses, which increases the possibilities of tumor control while preserving the quality of life of patients. Hyperthermia in combination with radiotherapy in head and neck tumors has fully demonstrated evidence (type I) both in Europe and in Spain and this is stated in the information transmitted by the SEOR (Spanish Society of Radiotherapy Oncology) on its website, in the hyperthermia section.
The advantages of both treatments together allow to improve tumor control. In fact, they could even avoid procedures as invasive and with as many sequelae as a laryngectomy. This intervention consists of removing the patient’s larynx and making a hole in the tracheal area so that she can breathe or try to learn to speak; it is very complicated due to the loss of the vocal cords. Likewise, there are difficulties with regard to food.
The close collaboration between IRCA and INMOA for this type of treatment allows not only to improve tumor control and reduce the need for surgeries such as the one previously indicated (laryngectomy), but also optimize the times of these therapies; a very important aspect to achieve the best results and quality of life for the patient.
Benefits of Oncothermia and ZAP – X
The use of these two technologies offers the patient a potentially more effective and much less invasive than other options, which will allow you to enjoy a better quality of life during the course of the disease and a greater chance of cure.
The ZAP-X technology is specifically designed for tumors in the craniocervical area, offering great precision when it comes to irradiating the area in a non-invasive way for the patient. In addition, since it does not work with cobalt sources, it does not require a bunkered room, so the patient experience will be much calmer and more comfortablesince the treatment is carried out in a room that has large windows that facilitate a more pleasant experience for the patient compared to traditional radiotherapy bunkers.
Radiotherapy often produces sublethal damage to malignant cells (these can be repaired). It is oxygen that often causes this damage to bind to DNA and become lethal to cancer cells. Tumors are characterized by being very poor in oxygen, among other things, because they have very fine blood vessels of poor quality. This is especially important in cases where there has been previous radiation therapy that can also damage the blood vessels. Through the hyperthermia carried out at INMOA, intratumoral vasodilation is produced, which increases oxygenation and, of course, radiosensitivity (the efficacy of radiotherapy). This is why lower doses of radiation, such as are sometimes required in the case of re-irradiation to avoid intolerable side effects, are just as highly effective when combined with hyperthermia. Thanks to this combination of high-precision radiotherapy with the ZAP-X and electromodulated hyperthermia carried out at INMOA, it is possible to achieve good tumor control resultswith safe doses of radiotherapy for the patient and that do not significantly affect their quality of life.
Success stories
As we mentioned previously, radiotherapy combined with hyperthermia in head and neck tumors has fully demonstrated evidence (type I). In fact, in Spain we can already speak of the first success story.
This is a 51-year-old patient who in 2020 was diagnosed with right breast cancer. After several years of constant headache, she was finally diagnosed with a fairly large metastasis in the brain area that manifested itself with headaches focused on the frontal region and also dizziness.
As of today, he has 3 radiotherapy sessions and 5 hyperthermia sessions, and in just 6/8 weeks, there has already been a positive response, where the tumor barely appears. Also, and one of the most important things, is that the patient has not had any side effects.
This case demonstrates that the combination that is being carried out at IRCA and INMOA, of radiosurgery with hyperthermia enhances the chances of patient response since, by increasing oxygenation within the tumor, the response to radiotherapy also increases.
team of doctors
This alliance of both centers comes from the hand of the oncologist Elisabeth Arrojo from INMOA and the specialists Kita Sallabanda, neurosurgeon and Morena Sallabanda, oncologist, from IRCAall of them international benchmarks in the health field.
