Rectal cancer tumour destroyed by ultrasound

Thursday, 26 November 2009 E-mail this to a friend Printable version

Almost 38.000 patients suffer from rectal cancer per year in the UK A patient with rectal cancer has become the first to have part of their tumour destroyed by ultrasound, say UK doctors. A team of radiologists, surgeons and oncologists at Hammersmith Hospital in London used high intensity ultrasound to heat up and kill the cancer. They say the technique will allow faster and more accurate targeting of tumours than conventional treatments. Hammersmith Hospital will offer the treatment to advanced stage patients. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is carried out under general anaesthetic. The device can treat tumours up to about 40cc volume and can heat the tissue up to 90 degrees centigrade First patient The first patient to have the procedure has requested anonymity. RECTAL CANCER Almost 38,000 patients suffer from rectal cancer per year in the UK Approximately a third of these cancers are within the rectum Patients often suffer from tenesmus - a painful condition where they find it difficult to empty their bowels and need frequent trips to the toilet They were given a low dose of heat at 70 degrees. Doctors say they are planning to treat 50 more patients and they will closely monitor them to discover the most effective temperature at which to perform the procedure. Unlike radiotherapy, HIFU, can be given to a patient a number of times with minimal risk of toxicity. The study leader, Professor Paul Abel, from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: "There is no incision made during the procedure, it's completely non-invasive, so recovery time will be quicker too. "As this is the first time this procedure has ever been performed for rectal cancer, we need to study a wider group of patients to assess how effective the treatment is and whether it has the potential to be curative or to lengthen a patient's life." A spokesman for the charity Beating Bowel Cancer said it welcomes "advances to improve the quality of patients' lives and relieve symptoms". "As this is a world first, we look forward to further studies and results with more patients over a longer period." Source

Nanotechnology may offer alternative to radiation for cancer patients

Last Updated: Wednesday, March 18, 2009 | 5:35 PM ET

CBC News

Nanotechnology, the science of the really small, is already applied in hundreds of consumer products to enhance colour and durability of paints or make socks less smelly, but it's real promise may lie in medicine.

Scientists can use nanoparticles created in a laboratory that are tens of thousands of times smaller than the width of a strand of hair to deliver drugs deep into the body, penetrating membranes in ways no pill has been able to do.

A nanoparticle can be attached to antibodies or chemicals that recognize tumour cells and can target and kill cancer cells but spare surrounding tissue.

Jie Chen, a nanotechnology engineer at the University of Alberta, is using nanotechnology to develop new cancer treatments that could one day replace radiation and chemotherapy. He is doing experiments with injected nanoparticles that contain a bamboo compound that is sensitive to ultrasound.

"So when the ultrasound is used and treated or targetted towards these compounds, then you will activate and generate something which can destroy the cancer so it's much safer compared to conventional radiation."

Dr. Nils Petersen, director general of the National Institute for Nanotechnology in Edmonton said nanotech promises better, faster and cheaper ways of diagnosing and treating disease, developing drugs — even regrowing teeth.

.......

The researchers in Edmonton are starting to organize a human trial of the ultrasound cancer treatment, saying they are eager to put nanotechnology to work in medicine.

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(WO/2009/026724) SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR SONODYNAMIC THERAPY

Biblio. Data

• Description
• Claims
• National Phase
• Notices
• Documents

Pub. No.: WO/2009/026724 International Application No.: PCT/CA2008/001548 Publication Date: 05.03.2009 International Filing Date: 29.08.2008
IPC:	A61N 7/00 (2006.01)
Applicants:	ANGEL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (CANADA), INC. [CA/CA]; 4936 Yonge Street, Suite 260, Toronto, ON M2N 6S3 (CA) (All Except US). CHEN, Rixin [CA/CA]; (CA) (US Only).
Inventor:	CHEN, Rixin; (CA).
Agent:	DEETH WILLIAMS WALL LLP; 400-150 York Street, Toronto, Ontario M5H 3S5 (CA).
Priority Data:	11/849,179 31.08.2007 US

Title:

SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR SONODYNAMIC THERAPY >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Click pic to enlarge

Abstract:

The present invention relates to diffuse ultrasound along with chemical agents to treat tissue, called sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and a system for treatment using SDT that comprises a whole body ensonification apparatus and control system. The whole body ensonification may reduce the chances of missing desired tissue that may not be easily detectable or may be found throughout the body. The apparatus has a plurality of diffuse ultrasound transducers for ensonifying at least part of a chamber filled with fluid and designed to accommodate a body for treatment. The person may be treated with sono-sensitive chemical agents, which may be activated when ensonified by the apparatus.

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US Filing

United States Patent Application	20090062724
Kind Code	A1
Chen; Rixen	March 5, 2009

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SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR SONODYNAMIC THERAPY

Abstract

The present invention relates to diffuse ultrasound along with chemical agents to treat tissue, called sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and a system for treatment using SDT that comprises a whole body ensonification apparatus and control system. The whole body ensonification may reduce the chances of missing desired tissue that may not be easily detectable or may be found throughout the body. The apparatus has a plurality of diffuse ultrasound transducers for ensonifying at least part of a chamber filled with fluid and designed to accommodate a body for treatment. The person may be treated with sono-sensitive chemical agents, which may be activated when ensonified by the apparatus.

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Inventors:

Chen; Rixen; (Vancouver, CA)

NOTES:
ANGEL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY (CANADA), INC.

Angel’s HIFU technology has been developed in conjunction with the China National Ultrasound Research Laboratory and the technology continues to be expanded and improved by its researchers and scientists today. Angel began first stage clinical trials in China in 2002. Successful and positive third stage clinical trials were completed at the end of 2005.
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Mechanism of Porphyrin-Induced Sonodynamic Effect: Possible Role of Hyperthermia

Radiation Research

Published by: Radiation Research SocietyRadiation Research 165(3):299-306. 2006

doi: 10.1667/RR3510.1

Mechanism of Porphyrin-Induced Sonodynamic Effect: Possible Role of Hyperthermia

Manabu Kinoshita¹ and Kullervo Hynynen

Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115

¹Corresponding author: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115; mkinosit@bwh.harvard.edu

Abstract

Kinoshita, M. and Hynynen, K. Mechanism of Porphyrin-Induced Sonodynamic Effect: Possible Role of Hyperthermia. Radiat. Res. 165, 299–306 (2006).

The biological effects of ultrasound have been investigated vigorously for various applications including the thermal coagulation of tissues, the opening of tight junctions, and localized gene or drug introduction. The synergistic cell killing effect of ultrasound and porphyrin derivatives, the so-called sonodynamic effect, holds promise for cancer treatment. Although several models to explain the sonodynamic effect have been proposed, its exact mechanism, especially in vivo, remains unknown. We examined the effect of a porphyrin derivative, protoporphyrin IX, on ultrasound-induced killing of HeLa cells. In some experiments, the intracellular protoporphyrin IX concentration was increased by 5-aminolevulinic acid treatment of the cells. Although extracellular protoporphyrin IX showed an enhanced cell killing effect by microbubble-enhanced ultrasound, intracellular protoporphyrin IX did not. On the other hand, intracellular protoporphyrin IX enhanced the cell killing effect of hyperthermia, which can be produced by ultrasound exposure, in a moderately acidic environment (pH 6.6). Because porphyrin derivatives are generally imported into the intracellular component in vivo, our results suggest that hyperthermia caused by ultrasound may play an important role in the sonodynamic effect induced by porphyrin derivatives.

Received: March 29, 2005; Accepted: June 10, 2005

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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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SonneMed - Sonodynamic Therapy

The Tumoricidal Effect of Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT) on S-180

Integrative Cancer Therapies, Vol. 7, No. 2, 96-102 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1534735408319065

Sarcoma in Mice
Xiaohuai Wang, MD

Department of Oncology, Liu Hua Qiao Hospital, Guangzhou, P. R. China, tlewis@sonnemed.com

Thomas J. Lewis, PhD

SonneMed LLC, Boston, Massachusetts

Doug Mitchell, PhD

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. However, few clinical data on SDT have been published. One reason is the lack of suitable drugs for clinical SDT use. Recently a new sonosensitizing agent has been developed by SonneMed, LLC, referred to as SF1. In this study the effect of SDT with SF1 on S-180 sarcoma in mice was examined. The tumor bearing mice were allocated to the following groups: (1) sham-treatment (control, C); (2) ultrasound treatment (only ultrasound treatment, 1.2 mW/cm2 , without SF1, U); (3) SF1 treatment (SF1 20 mg/kg intraperitoneal [ip] without ultrasound treatment, S); and (4) SF1 + ultrasound treatment (SU). Following treatment, tumor volume was monitored. Tumor growth inhibition was seen only in group SU, and with increasing ultrasound intensity, the inhibitory effect was enhanced. Tumor growth inhibition was also visible even when covered by a barrier of bone. Pathological slices showed coagulated necrosis or metamorphic tissue with inflammatory reaction in the tumor taken from 2 to 36 hours after SDT. These data revealed that SDT with SF1 did inhibit growth of mouse S-180 sarcoma and the inhibitory effect was sound intensity dependent. SDT also induced some inflammation while it destroyed the tumor, indicative of a "vaccine" effect. SF1 shows great promise for clinical use in the future.

Key Words: photodynamic therapy • sonodynamic therapy • cancer • cancer therapy • tumor necrosis • tumoricidal • poryphrins • SonneMed • mouse S-180 sarcoma • anticancer

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