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Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) has been introduced clinically as an alternative approach for the focal
treatment of tumors. MH utilizes the heat generated by the magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) when
subjected to an alternating magnetic field (AMF). It has become an important topic in the nanomedical
field due to their multitudes of advantages towards effective antitumor therapy such as high biosafety,
deep tissue penetration, and targeted selective tumor killing. However, in order for MH to progress and
to realize its paramount potential as an alternative choice for cancer treatment, tremendous challenges
have to be overcome. Thus, the efficiency of MH therapy needs enhancement. In its recent 60-year of
history, the field of MH has focused primarily on heating using MNPs for therapeutic applications.
Increasing the thermal conversion efficiency of MNPs is the fundamental strategy for improving
therapeutic efficacy. Recently, emerging experimental evidence indicates that MNPs-MH produces
nano-scale heat effects without macroscopic temperature rise. A deep understanding of the effect of this
localized induction heat for the destruction of subcellular/cellular structures further supports the efficacy
of MH in improving therapeutic therapy. In this review, the currently available strategies for improving the
antitumor therapeutic efficacy of MNPs-MH will be discussed. Firstly, the recent advancements in
engineering MNP size, composition, shape, and surface to significantly improve their energy dissipation
rates will be explored. Secondly, the latest studies depicting the effect of local induction heat for
selectively disrupting cells/intracellular structures will be examined. Thirdly, strategies to enhance the
therapeutics by combining MH therapy with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy,
photothermal/photodynamic therapy (PDT), and gene therapy will be reviewed. Lastly, the prospect and
significant challenges in MH-based antitumor therapy will be discussed. This review is to provide a
comprehensive understanding of MH for improving antitumor therapeutic efficacy, which would be of
utmost benefit towards guiding the users and for the future development of MNPs-MH towards
successful application in medicine.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (magnetite and maghemite) are intensively studied due to their broad potential applications in medical and biological sciences. Their unique properties, such as nanometric size, large specific surface area, and superparamagnetism, allow them to be used in targeted drug delivery and internal radiotherapy by targeting an external magnetic field. In addition, they are successfully used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hyperthermia, and radiolabelling. The appropriate design of nanoparticles allows them to be delivered to the desired tissues and organs. The desired biodistribution of nanoparticles, eg, cancerous tumors, is increased using an external magnetic field. Thus, knowledge of the biodistribution of these nanoparticles is essential for medical applications. It allows for determining whether nanoparticles are captured by the desired organs or accumulated in other tissues, which may lead to potential toxicity. This review article presents the main organs where nanoparticles accumulate. The sites of their first uptake are usually the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes, but with the appropriate design of nanoparticles, they can also be accumulated in organs such as the lungs, heart, or brain. In addition, the review describes the factors affecting the biodistribution of nanoparticles, including their size, shape, surface charge, coating molecules, and route of administration. Modern techniques for determining nanoparticle accumulation sites and concentration in isolated tissues or the body in vivo are also presented. 

In the quest for cancer treatment modalities with greater effectiveness, the combination of tumor immunotherapy and nanoparticle-based hyperthermia has emerged as a promising frontier. The present article provides a comprehensive review of recent advances and cutting-edge research in this burgeoning field and examines how these two treatment strategies can be effectively integrated. Tumor immunotherapy, which harnesses the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells, has shown considerable promise.
Concurrently, nanoparticle-based hyperthermia, which utilizes nanotechnology to promote selective cell death by raising the temperature of tumor cells, has emerged as an innovative therapeutic approach. While both strategies have individually shown potential, combination of the two modalities may amplify anti-tumor responses, with improved outcomes and reduced side effects. Key studies illustrating the synergistic effects of these two approaches are highlighted, and current challenges and future prospects in the field are discussed. As we stand on the precipice of a new era in cancer treatment, this review underscores the importance of continued research and collaboration in bringing these innovative treatments from the bench to the bedside.

The diagnosis and treatment of cancer are continuously evolving in search of more efficient, safe, and personalized approaches. Therapies based on nanoparticles or physical stimuli-responsive substances have shown great potential to overcome the inherent shortcomings of conventional cancer therapies. […]

Sistema nazionale linee guida dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Edizione 2023

Survivors of head and neck cancer can experience long-term consequences of the cancer and subsequent treatments even after the cancer has resolved. Increasingly clinicians are aware of the social, psychological, financial, and emotional impacts of these cancers, in addition to the support required for the physical symptoms. This review provides recommendations on the long-term management and support required for survivors of head and neck cancer in the European healthcare setting. […]

Sistema nazionale linee guida dell’Istituto Superiore di Sanità – Edizione 2021

This article provides an update on the global cancer burden using the GLOBOCAN 2020 estimates of cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. […]

Although head and neck cancer is associated with pain, disfiguration, dysfunction, psychosocial distress, and death, recent advances have brought substantial improvements in outcomes. […]

Survival from head and neck cancers (HNCs) of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx has increased by 10% over the past few
decades. […]

In this review we intend to highlight the progress which has been made in recent years around different types of smart activation nanosystems for cancer treatment. […]

Hyperthermia and radiotherapy in the management of head and neck cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The annual incidence of head and neck cancers worldwide is more than 550,000 cases with around 300,000 deaths each year [1]. Male to female ratio ranges from 2:1 to 4:1. About 90% of all head and neck cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). HNSCC is the sixth leading cancer by incidence worldwide. […]

Chemo-radiation has emerged as the standard of care in most types of head and neck cancer. This strategy has the advantage of maintaining both structure and functions, albeit with increased acute and delayed side effects. Radiation with hyperthermia can achieve the same objective without additional toxicities. […]