Method and device for treating cancer with electrical therapy in conjunction with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy

• US 20050004507A1
• Filed: 05/07/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ionix Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oncostim, Inc.
• Inventors: Kroll, Mark W., Schroeppel, Edward A., Kroll, Kai
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/05 for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode A61N1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/403 for thermotherapy, e.g. hyperthermia

Abstract

This invention relates generally to the electrical treatment of malignant tumors and neoplasms by applying a voltage to affected tissue. Devices and various adaptations therein are described for use in electrical therapy. Additionally, various chemotherapeutic agent and radiation therapies are described which may be advantageously used in conjunction with electrical therapy to ameliorate cancer.

Claims

1. A method of treating cancerous tumors, comprising:

administering a chemotherapeutic agent; and

attracting said chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor by applying electrical therapy between at least one anode and at least one remote cathode; and

administering electrical therapy to said tumor such that electroporation of cellular membranes is achieved.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered at a voltage ranging from 200 to 1300 volts.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered for an amount of time ranging from 1 μ

s to 1 ms.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered a number of times ranging from 10 to 1000 times.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered between at least one anode and at least one cathode.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered at a voltage ranging from 2 to 5 volts.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered for an amount of time ranging from one to four hours.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered between at least one anode and at least one cathode.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is any of the group consisting of bleomycin, mitoxantrone, melphalan, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, and adriamycin.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is administered by an implantable catheter.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered at a duty cycle in the range of 50 to 70 percent.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered at a duty cycle in the range of 50 to 70 percent.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising administering an adjuvant.

14. A method of treating cancerous tumors, comprising:

implanting an anode-electrode into a cancerous tumor; and

administering a negatively charged chemotherapeutic agent; and

drawing said negatively charged chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor by applying electrical therapy between said anode and a remote cathode.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of reversing polarity of said anode electrode and said remote cathode such that said anode electrode becomes cathodic and said remote cathode becomes anodic.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered at a voltage ranging from 2 to 5 volts.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said negatively charged chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered for an amount of time ranging from one to four hours.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of administering electrical therapy to said cancerous tumor such that electroporation of cellular membranes is achieved.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered at a voltage ranging from 200 to 1300 volts.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered for an amount of time ranging from 1 μ

s to 1 ms.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered a number of times ranging from 10 to 1000 times.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered between at least one anode and at least one cathode.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein said negatively charged chemotherapeutic agent is administered by an implantable catheter.

24. The method of claim 14 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered at a duty cycle in the range of 50 to 70 percent.

25. The method of claim 14 further comprising administering an adjuvant.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered at a duty cycle in the range of 50 to 70 percent.

27. A method of treating cancerous tumors, comprising:

implanting at least one cathode electrode into a cancerous tumor; and

administering a positively charged chemotherapeutic agent; and

drawing said positively charged chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor by applying electrical therapy between said cathode and a remote anode.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of reversing polarity of said cathode electrode and said remote anode such that said cathode electrode becomes anodic and said remote anode becomes cathodic.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said positively charged chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered at a voltage ranging from 2 to 5 volts.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said electrical therapy causing attraction of said positively charged chemotherapeutic agent to a cancerous tumor is delivered for an amount of time ranging from one to four hours.

31. The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of administering electrical therapy to said cancerous tumor such that electroporation of cellular membranes is achieved.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered at a voltage ranging from 200 to 1300 volts.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered for an amount of time ranging from 1 μ

s to 1 ms.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered a number of times ranging from 10 to 1000 times.

35. The method of claim 31 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered between at least one anode and at least one cathode.

36. The method of claim 27 wherein said positively charged chemotherapeutic agent is administered by an implantable catheter.

37. The method of claim 27 wherein said positively charged chemotherapeutic agent is any of the group consisting of bleomycin and adriamycin.

38. The method of claim 27 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered at a duty cycle in the range of 50 to 70 percent.

39. The method of claim 27 further comprising administering an adjuvant.

40. The method of claim 31 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered at a duty cycle in the range of 50 to 70 percent.

41. A method of treating cancerous tumors, comprising:

implanting a plurality of electrodes; and

administering a chemotherapeutic agent; and

applying electrical therapy to all electrodes such that all electrodes are cathodic.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is doxorubicin.

43. A method of treating cancerous tumors, comprising:

implanting a plurality of electrodes; and

applying electrical therapy to all electrodes such that all electrodes are anodic; and

administering radiation therapy.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered at a voltage ranging from 2 to 10 volts.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered for an amount of time ranging from five to thirty minutes.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein said electrical therapy is delivered at a duty cycle in the range of 50 to 70 percent.

47. The method of claim 44 wherein said radiation therapy is brachytherapy.

48. The method claim 44 wherein said radiation therapy is achieved with a cobalt 60 source

49. A method of treating cancerous tumors, comprising:

implanting a port into a patient; and

electrically coupling said port to an external power source; and

electrically coupling said port to at least one lead having at least one electrode; and

placing said at least one electrode in the vicinity of a tumor; and

administering a chemotherapeutic agent to said tumor; and

energizing said external power source such that electrical therapy is conducted from said external device to said at least one lead having at least one electrode via said port such that electrical therapy is delivered to a tumor at a voltage sufficient to cause electroporation of cellular membranes.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein said electrical therapy current causing electroporation is delivered at a voltage ranging from 200 to 1300 volts.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein said electrical therapy causing electroporation is delivered for an amount of time ranging from 1 μ

s to 1 ms.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein said chemotherapeutic agent is administered via a drug pump.