Combined physical and immunotherapy for cancer

Abstract

The present invention combines physical and immunologic therapies for the treatment of neoplasms by conditioning a targeted neoplasm with an immunoadjuvant (also called immuno-modulator or immunopotentiator) and then physically destroying the conditioned neoplasm. A number of physical therapies can be used to achieve the physical destruction of the conditioned tumor mass.

1 . A method for treating a tumor in a human or other animal host to achieve acute tumor destruction while concomitantly stimulating a host immune response against a proliferation of residual or metastatic tumor cells, comprising: 
 (a) administering an immunomodulator to the host so as to potentiate or augment an immunologic response to the presence in the host of fragmented neoplastic tissue and cellular molecules; and    (b) generating fragmented neoplastic tissue and cellular molecules from the tumor, thereby reducing tumor burden while effecting the stimulation of the immunologic response.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said immunomodulator stimulates the host's antitumor response by increasing the number of effector cells or producing one or more soluble mediators.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said immunodulator serves as an effector or mediator.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said immunodulator decreases host suppressor mechanisms.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said immunodulator alters tumor cells to increase their immunogenicity or otherwise makes said cells more likely to be damaged by immunologic processes.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said immunodulator improves the host's tolerance to cytotoxics or radiation therapy.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is accomplished by performing a phototherapy on the tumor.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said phototherapy comprises a thermal phototherapy.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said phototherapy comprises a nonthermal cytotoxic phototherapy.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is accomplished by inducing hyperthermia in the tumor via a means therefor.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said means comprises laser light.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said means comprises ultrasound.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said means comprises microwaves.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said means comprises radio frequency induction.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said means comprises an electric current.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein step (b) is accomplished by performing cryotherapy on the tumor.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein said immunomodulator is administered intratumorally.