Abstract
Cancer treatments based on mild hyperthermia (39–43◦C, HT) are applied to a widening range of cancer types, but several factors limit their efficacy and slow down more widespread adoption. These factors include difficulties in adequate heat delivery, a short therapeutic window and the acquisition of thermotolerance by cancer cells. Here, we explore the biological effects of HT, the cellular responses to these effects and their clinically-relevant consequences. We then identify the heat stress response—the cellular defense mechanism that detects and counteracts the effects of heat—as one of the major forces limiting the efficacy of HT-based therapies and propose targeting this mechanism as a potentially universal strategy for improving their efficacy.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 1243 |
Pages (from-to) | 1-20 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Cancers |
Volume | 13 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2 Mar 2021 |
Keywords
- Heat shock response
- Heat stress
- Hyperthermia