Hyperthermia (HT) is an anti-cancer therapy commonly used with radio and chemotherapies based on applying heat (39-45 °C) to inhibit tumor growth. However, controlling heat towards tumors and not normal tissues is challenging. Therefore, nanoparticles (NPs) are used in HT to apply heat only to tumor tissues to induce DNA damage and the expression of heat shock proteins, which eventually result in apoptosis. The aim of this review article is to summarize recent advancements in HT with the use of magnetic NPs to locally increase temperature and promote cell death. In addition, the recent development of nanocarriers as NP-based drug delivery systems is discussed. Finally, the efficacy of HT combined with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, gene therapy, photothermal therapy, and immunotherapy is explored.
Keywords: cancers; drug delivery systems; hyperthermia; magnetic nanoparticles.