Target-Specific Microwave Antenna Optimization for Pre-Clinical and Clinical Bladder Hyperthermia Devices

Abstract

We have yet to establish the optimum combination of hyperthermia with radiation and/or chemotherapy for effective treatment of bladder cancer. Convenient and affordable microwave applicators capable of well-localized non-invasive heating of murine, canine and human bladder cancers is essential for logical progression of studies from pre-clinical to multi-institution clinical trials, as needed to investigate the effects of hyperthermia as an adjuvant treatment for bladder cancer. The primary objective of this research was to utilize state-of-the art segmentation and simulation software to optimize target-specific microwave antennas for more uniform heating in pre-clinical and clinical investigations of bladder hyperthermia.The results of this research are:1. The development of a reliable simulation-based approach for optimizing microwave applicators;2. The design, construction and testing of an applicator for heating murine bladder to 40-43°C while maintaining surface and core temperatures normothermic;3. The optimization, construction and testing of a fundamentally different type of antenna (metamaterial) for heating pediatric and/or canine bladder;4. A preliminary effort towards the optimization, construction and testing of a metamaterial antennas for heating adult bladder.One significant implication of this work is to enable essential pre-clinical bladder hyperthermia studies with the development of a reliable microwave applicator for heating murine bladder to 40-43°C while maintaining surface and core temperatures normothermic. It is clear that hyperthermia enhances the effects of chemo- and radio- therapies, and this device will allow scientists to investigate the basic principles underlying this phenomenon more systematically.Another significant contribution of this work is the development of metamaterial antennas for deep tissue hyperthermia. These antennas decrease the cost and increase the comfort and portability of bladder hyperthermia devices. These improvements will enable the multi-institutional clinical trials required to apply for insurance reimbursement of deep-tissue thermal therapy and the subsequent widespread use of hyperthermia as an adjuvant to current cancer therapies.