Abstract: A method of predicting the effectiveness of radiotherapy for cancer patients. A method of predicting the effectiveness of radiotherapy for cancer patients, which includes the steps of: (a) performing a biopsy to collect cancer cells or cancer tissues from a cancer patient, (b) determining the expression level of hepatoma derived growth factor (HDGF) in the cancer cells or cancer tissues obtained in step (a), and (c) on the basis of the results obtained by the determination in step (b), predicting whether or not a significant treatment effect can be obtained when radiotherapy is carried out on the cancer patient.

Abstract: In an apparatus which applies periodic pulsation to a solution flowing through a conduit while undergoing perfusion by a pump, a first valve is disposed in the conduit downstream of the pump, a bypass line is provided to the conduit downstream of the first valve, and a second valve is disposed in the bypass line for withdrawing some of a first pulsed flow formed in the conduit by opening and closing the first valve, through the bypass line as a second pulsed flow. A valve driving circuit periodically opens and closes the first valve and second valve at predetermined time schedules so that the second pulsed flow is superimposed upon the first pulsed flow to form a waveform in the conduit. Any desired pulsatile waveform can be obtained by adjusting the pulse width, the crest values, the delay time, etc., of the two pulsed flows.

Abstract: A device for radio-frequency hyperthermia havinga first electrode adapted to be disposed in a tract organ of a living body.A second electrode is provided which is adapted to be disposed on an outer circumference of the living body such that the second electrode is opposed to the first electrode such that there is generated a spatially inhomogeneous electric field within the living body in cooperation with the first electrode so that a part of the living body near the first electrode may be heated more strongly than a part of the living body near the second electrode.This serves to selectively heat a tumor or malignancy region at the deep inside of the living body by a noninvasive technique.

Abstract: An endotract antenna used for hyperthermia treatments. A microwave radiation antenna is surrounded by a balloon-like member made of a thin polymeric film. Tubes for feeding and draining a cooling liquid to and from the inside of the balloon-like member enable the device to effectively warm an endotract lesion such as a tumor by effectively supplying the energy of the microwaves emitted from the antenna to the endotract lesion.