European International Journal of Science and Technology Vol. 2 No. 9 November, 2013 73 AN INNOVATIVE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH IN ONCOLOGY: HYPERTHERMIA Mehmet TOPÇUL 1 *,İdil ÇETİN 2 1 *IstanbulUniversity, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Istanbul/Turkey. 2 Istanbul University, Institute of Science, Department of Radiobiology, Istanbul/Turkey. Author’s Corresponding Address: 1* Mehmet TOPÇUL Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 34459, Vezneciler, Istanbul/Turkey. E-mail: topcul@istanbul.edu.tr 2 İdil ÇETİN Istanbul University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 34459, Vezneciler, Istanbul/Turkey. E-mail: idil.cetin@istanbul.edu.tr ABSTRACT Failing in the cure of cancer sometimes by conventional treatment methods points us to make new approaches besides these conventional methods. Using hyperthermia which effects angiogenesis and cancer stem cells, combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and gene therapy is seen as a method that can help the treatment of cancer. Key words: Hyperthermia, Radiotherapy, Chemotherapy, Angiogenesis, Gene Therapy, Cancer Stem Cells Introduction The therapeutic effects of hyperthermia on various types of malignant diseases have been recognized for more than 100 years (Luk et al., 1980). Hyperthermia is an emerging effective treatment method in oncology. It has became a new modality of cancer treatments, showing significant improvements in tumor response rates and patient morbidity in combination with other treatment methods, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and gene therapy or applied as a single therapy. Nevertheless, hyperthermia is still in its infancy (Fiorentini and Szasz, 2006). Hyperthermia is a therapeutic procedure used to raise the body or local tissue temperature to about 41-43°C through the application of electromagnetic or ultrasound energy for a defined period of time to sensitize cells for additional therapies (Cabuy, 2011).