Study of the Optimum Injection Sites for a Multiple Metastases Region in Cancer Therapy by Using MFH

摘要

Metastases represent the final stage in cancer progression. Their early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are very important in order to maintain a high survival prognostic. The interest in MFH (Magnetic Fluid Hyperthermia) and cancer therapy has noticeably increased in the last years. There are still numerous problems that need to be solved before a clinical model may be tested. The goal of this paper is to both quantify the optimum dose of magnetic material and optimize injection sites in order to achieve a therapeutic temperature of 42$^{circ}$C that may induce apoptosis in tumor cells. A successful realization of this therapy implies a heating zone of at least 2 mm around the tumor. Finite Element Method (FEM) simulations of spherical metastases in liver and breast tissues near a blood vessel were performed using COMSOL Multiphysics (Heat Transfer Module) in order to simulate the temperature field produced by ferromagnetic nanoparticles within the tumor and healthy tissues. A systematical variation of tumor diameter and particle dosage was performed for every physical parameter for the tumor tissues mentioned above (e.g., tissue density, tumor/tissue perfusion rate) in order to understand the interdependence of these parameters and their effects on hyperthermia therapy.