Photodynamic and Sonodynamic Therapy, Experiences with a Novel Approach

JNK/Ak
Masters/JNK Papers/ Photodynamic and Sonodynamic Therapy – A Novel Approach
October 2007

Photodynamic and Sonodynamic Therapy, Experiences with a Novel Approach.

Introduction

I have been asked to write a paper on our experiences and methods and also results, in our use of a novel approach to Photodynamic Therapy. This is something we have been developing for several years, together with two other clinics, Dr X Wang, Chief of Oncology Department, Friendship Hospital, Guangzhou, China and also the Opal Clinic, Melbourne, Australia under the direction of Dr Douglas Mitchell. The reason why all three clinics developed this approach is that we are all faced with late stage cancer patients who have been through all the conventional treatment modalities, and are practically all metastatic cancers. We therefore have an interest in a safe approach to tumour cell destruction, however in all of these patients the approach is fundamentally palliative. Our results have been encouraging leading to relevant conclusions outlined in the last section of this paper. Over the past three years our clinic (The Dove Clinic for Integrated Medicine) has treated over 80 patients, the Opal Clinic has treated slightly less, and Dr Wang in Guangzhou has treated more than this number. This paper is not a formal clinical trial, it is a preliminary report. I therefore thought it best to discuss five cases fairly typical of the kind of cases on which we use this palliative approach. The use of our novel approach centres around the development of a specific sensitizer (Sonalux 1) this is a highly purified mixture of several chlorins, each with a different side chain. This agent has been shown to break down at 636 nanometres and also to be sensitive to ultrasound.
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Opal Clinic closedown

Opal Clinic closedown

Opal Clinic closed its doors in May 2008, and is currently only treating existing patients. The problem was not with the treatment. Since closedown, the two major Opal therapies, SPDT ( described on this web site) and Enzyme Therapy are both progressing rapidly. The enzyme therapy is in the early stages of commercial development, and it continues to very significantly extend peoples lives. Our Chinese colleagues continue to develop SPDT, and this also is significantly extending people’s lives.
A major reasons for closing were that:

1. our Chinese colleagues were doing a better job;
2. we needed to spend about $250,000 to keep our equipment up to date; and
3. our Chinese colleagues have access to other useful therapies which are not available (or hard to get) in Australia

The general approach to metastatic cancer is to de-bulk or shrink tumours until they get to the size where SPDT is most effective. Our Chinese colleagues use some of the following to do this:

1. Local chemotherapy. Drugs injected directly into tumours (safer and more effective than when given to the whole body).
2. High intensity focussed ultra sound (HIFU). I believe that this is only used in Australia to treat prostate problems, with very few hospitals having the equipment. The Chinese use HIFU to treat many tumours, and Dr Wang in Guangzhou has recently improved the technology for this therapy.
3. Radioseeds inserted directly into tumours (safer than radiation from outside the body). This is done to a limited extent in Australia, but not nearly as much as our Chinese colleagues. Australia may lack the skilled surgeons to do this.
4. Hyperthermia, to safely attack large tumours which cannot be surgically removed. Widely used in Germany and China, but it does not appear to be available in Australia.

The net result is that most Australians will have to wait for regulatory approval for Opal therapies to be available in Australia and funded by insurers. We expect them to become available for one cancer type in about 2015, with others added later.
If you are interested in getting access to these treatments (outside Australia), please click here . Include your telephone number, and give a brief description of your health status, and we will direct you to the appropriate practitioners.

Doug Mitchell Ph.D
Chairman, Opal Clinic.

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Primary clinical use of sonodynamic therapy (SDT) for advanced breast cancer

Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2008 ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings (Post-Meeting Edition).
Vol 26, No 15S (May 20 Supplement), 2008: 12029
© 2008 American Society of Clinical Oncology

Abstract

X. J. Wang, D. Mitchell and T. J. Lewis

Liu Hua Qiao Hospital, Boston, MA; Opal Clinic, Victoria, Australia; SonneMed, LLC, Boston, MA

12029

Background: There are increasing data showing that sonodynamic therapy (SDT), which refers to a synergistic effect of drugs and ultrasound, is a promising new modality for cancer treatment. Recently a new sonosensitizing agent has been developed by SonneMed, LLC. It is extremely sensitive to ultrasound. As with photodynamic sensitizers, it is specifically absorbed into tumor cells and produces singlet oxygen upon interaction with the right frequency and intensity of ultrasound. The singlet oxygen is able to create cellular necrosis. Our animal studies showed that SDT with SF1 inhibits growth of mouse S-180 sarcoma. Here we report initial clinical data using SDT with SF1 for advanced breast cancer. Methods: Three patients with metastasized pathologically proven breast carcinoma were studied. Their carcinoma failed to respond to conventional therapy and spread to the whole body. The SDT agent was provided through lingual absorption. After 24h, light and ultrasound was applied, irradiating the tumour area for 20 minutes daily for 4 days and repeated every two weeks. Results: Case 1 had breast carcinoma which spread to the whole body. She had surgery, chemo, RT, hormone, Herceptin, Zometa etc, but all failed. The tumor kept growing until she multiple acute symptoms. After 3 SDT treatments her symptom improved significantly and windpipe spile, gastric and urine catheter were all taken off. PET/CT scans showed a positive partial result (PR). Case 2 had left breast carcinoma with multi-organ metastases. After 2 treatments PET/CT scan showed very positive PR. PET/CT taken 28 months after treatment showed no signs of tumor in any cavity of the body. Case 3 had left breast carcinoma. All conventional treatments failed. Her carcinoma metastases broadly and her marrow function was very poor. After 2 cycle treatments PET/CT scan showed PR. Conclusions: Primary clinical data shows that SDT with SF1 is well tolerated and has a significant therapeutic effect for some patients with advanced breast cancer. Even a terminally ill patient can be treated safely and effectively. Sonodynamic therapy with SF1 has significant merit for further investigation.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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