A century with hyperthermic oncology in Scandinavia

The hyperthermic research during the last 100 years is reviewed with the aim to describe a research activity which has been performed in parallel to and associated with the development of radiation oncology. Basic and clinical research in several Scandinavian centres has made major international contributions to the establishment of a rationale for and implementation of hyperthermia as a combined modality treatment together with chemotherapy or radiation in oncology. At the same time it has been demonstrated that collaboration and integration easily could be performed within the Scandinavian centres. Hyperthermic oncology is therefore a typical example of how research involving both biological, physical/engineering, and clinical skills in a proper environment can create valuable results.