Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia
Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia injects iron-oxide nanoparticles into a tumour and heats them from outside with an alternating magnetic field.
NanoTherm received European approval for glioblastoma in 2010 and is used at a small number of German centres, usually with radiotherapy. A phase 2 adjuvant glioblastoma study is recruiting in Poland (NCT06271421); the US prostate focal-ablation study (NCT05010759) was terminated. Systemically delivered magnetic hyperthermia, as opposed to direct intratumoural injection, is still preclinical.
How it works
Superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles deposited in the tumour dissipate heat under an alternating magnetic field, reaching 40-45 °C and sensitising cells to radiation and chemotherapy.
- Heat is generated only where particles sit
- Adds to radiotherapy without extra systemic toxicity
- Approved precedent in Europe
- Requires direct injection and a specialised field applicator
- Uneven particle distribution gives uneven heating
- Very few centres; a troubled commercial history
Latest papers
topQuery for this technology: (TITLE:"Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia" OR ABSTRACT:"Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia, not a curated reading list.