Hyperthermia by a nitinol stent in an alternating magnetic field: Safety and feasibility in rabbit esophageal cancer

Hyperthermia by heating in-stent is a potentially new method to treat esophageal cancer. This study assessed the safety of heating the rabbit esophagus with a nitinol stent in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) and investigated whether this method offers a therapeutic option for esophageal cancer. Nitinol stents were placed in the cervical esophagi of healthy rabbits, which were heated in an AMF for different times at 43, 46 and 50 °C. The esophagi were histologically examined after a week to observe whether there was transmural necroses. Then esophageal cancer of rabbit placed nitinol stents were heated in an AMF at 46 °C for 10 min. Stents were heated to a target temperature within 5 min. The highest tolerated temperature and time for the healthy rabbit esophagus was at 46 °C for 10 min. Tumor growth was delayed by heating and it was statistically significant. Heating the rabbit esophageal wall at 46 °C for 10 min proves to be safe and effective in delaying tumor growth.