Abstract:

A phase II clinical trial for the treatment of isolated liver metastases is currently underway at the Royal Marsden Hospital. Tumors lying 4--12 cm below the skin surface are targeted in fully conscious patients. Treatment success is monitored using either radiological methods in conjunction with biochemical marker assays, or by histological examination. Factors determining pain or other sensations have been studied in order that exposures may be optimized. Laboratory investigations have been undertaken in parallel with these clinical studies, and these have been used to establish the effects of, for example, rib shadowing, timing of individual exposures, and in situ intensity on tissue ablation. Skin studies have allowed the determination of thresholds for a ``burn'' when multiple, overlapping exposures are used.