Radiotherapy improvements

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for inducing an abscopal response to radiotherapy in an individual.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A method for inducing an abscopal response to radiotherapy in an individual, including:
 irradiating an individual having a plurality of tumors, and who has received idronoxil, with a cytotoxic dose of ionising radiation so that fewer than all of the plurality of tumors are irradiated, thereby resulting in the individual having irradiated and non-irradiated tumors,   wherein at least one of the tumors is a primary tumor, and at least one of the tumors is a metastatic or secondary tumor of a primary tumor;   wherein at least one of the primary, or metastatic or secondary tumors, is a prostate tumor;   wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual about 12 to 24 hours before irradiating the individual;   wherein one or more non-irradiated tumors regress following administration of idronoxil and the irradiation of the individual, thereby inducing an abscopal response to radiotherapy in the individual.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the one or more non-irradiated tumors are tumors that have a diameter of more than 10 mm. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein all non-irradiated tumors regress. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein one or more non-irradiated tumors are eliminated. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein all non-irradiated tumors are eliminated. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein an irradiated tumor is located in or on the same organ, or in or on the same connective tissue as a non-irradiated tumor. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein a primary tumor is irradiated. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein a primary tumor and a metastatic tumor are irradiated. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein a metastatic tumor is irradiated and a primary tumor is not irradiated. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 34  including the steps of:
 assessing at least some of the tumors to determine at least one tumor for irradiation with the cytotoxic dose of ionising radiation; and 
 selecting at least one of the assessed tumors for irradiation with the cytotoxic dose of ionising radiation. 
 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein a tumor is assessed according to the size or diameter of the tumor. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of tumors is assessed according to the dose of radiotherapy required to provide cytotoxicity to a tumor of the plurality of tumors. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein a tumor is assessed according to anatomical location. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein the plurality of tumors are assessed according to the expression of one or more biomarkers. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the tumor selected for irradiation has a longest diameter of at least 10 mm. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 34 , including the further step of:
 assessing one or more organs or tissues of an individual who has received the compound and irradiation, to determine the regression of a non-irradiated tumor in the individual.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the compound is administered to the individual in an amount of about 10 to 30 mg/kg. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual in a daily amount of about 100 to 900 mg. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual in a daily amount of about 400 or 800 mg. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual for a period of up to 14 days before the commencement of radiotherapy. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual for a period of 1 to 7 days before the commencement of radiotherapy. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual on each day that radiotherapy is given. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual for a period of up to 3 months post the final radiotherapy treatment. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual for about 14 days post the final radiotherapy treatment. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein idronoxil is administered to the individual by rectal administration.