Hyperthermia, the raising of tumor temperature (≥39°C), holds great promise as an adjuvant treatment for cancer therapy. This review focuses on 2 key aspects of hyperthermia: its molecular and cellular effects and its impact on the immune system. Hyperthermia has profound effects on critical biological processes. Increased temperatures inhibit DNA repair enzymes, making cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy and radiation. Elevated temperatures also induce cell cycle arrest and trigger apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, hyperthermia modifies the expression of heat shock proteins, which play vital roles in cancer therapy, including enhancing immune responses. Hyperthermic treatments also have a significant impact on the body’s immune response against tumors, potentially improving the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Mild systemic hyperthermia (39°C-41°C) mimics fever, activating immune cells and raising metabolic rates. Intense heat above 50°C can release tumor antigens, enhancing immune reactions. Using photothermal nanoparticles for targeted heating and drug delivery can also modulate the immune response. Hyperthermia emerges as a cost-effective and well-tolerated adjuvant therapy when integrated with immunotherapy. This comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for the selection of patient-specific treatments and the guidance of future experimental studies.

中文翻译：

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利用热疗：增强抗癌治疗的分子、细胞和免疫学见解


热疗，即提高肿瘤温度（≥39°C），作为癌症治疗的辅助治疗具有广阔的前景。本综述重点关注热疗的两个关键方面：其分子和细胞效应及其对免疫系统的影响。高温对关键的生物过程具有深远的影响。温度升高会抑制 DNA 修复酶，使癌细胞对化疗和放疗更加敏感。升高的温度还会诱导细胞周期停滞并触发细胞凋亡途径。此外，热疗会改变热休克蛋白的表达，热休克蛋白在癌症治疗中发挥着至关重要的作用，包括增强免疫反应。热疗还对人体针对肿瘤的免疫反应产生重大影响，可能提高免疫检查点抑制剂的疗效。轻度全身热疗（39°C-41°C）模拟发烧，激活免疫细胞并提高代谢率。 50°C以上的高温可以释放肿瘤抗原，增强免疫反应。使用光热纳米颗粒进行靶向加热和药物输送也可以调节免疫反应。当与免疫疗法相结合时，热疗成为一种经济有效且耐受性良好的辅助疗法。这篇全面的综述为选择患者特异性治疗方法和指导未来的实验研究提供了宝贵的资源。