Method and apparatus for cancer treatment

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for treatment of cancer are provided. The method can include systemic administration of selective A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists like CI-IB-MECA (CF 101), U-529, cordycepin or similar drugs in combination with application of pulsed Electric Field Stimulation (EFS) to the treatment area. A3AR agonists may be delivered in blend with allosteric enhancers of A3AR agonists potency like LUF6000 or other similar drugs. EFS is provided in three or more directions, which significantly increases expression of A3ARs on the cellular membranes and allows achieving a downstream apoptotic signal several-fold stronger than the signal created by an agonist alone. The apparatus may be dedicated to one patient usage over long period of time – hours and days continuously or intermittently.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pulsed electric field stimulation (EFS) apparatus for treatment of cancer, the apparatus comprising:
 a first pair of electrodes provided to a patient along a first axis of three mutually orthogonal axes associated with a patient’s body;   a second pair of electrical coils provided to a patient along a second axis of the three mutually orthogonal axes associated with the patient’s body;   a third pair of electrical coils provided to the patient along a third orthogonal axis of the three mutually orthogonal axes associated with the patient’s body; and   a controller electrically coupled to each of the first, second and third pairs of coils to generate three dimensional EFS along each of the first, second and third orthogonal axes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to energize two of the first, second and third pairs of electrodes to generate a stimulating electric field along an axis different than the first, second and third orthogonal axes. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to energize each of the first, second and third pairs of electrodes to provide an electric field strength in a treatment area containing the cancer in a range of 10 to 50 mV/cm. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to energize each of the first, second and third pairs of electrodes via a sinusoidal signal. 
     
     
         5 . A pulsed electric field stimulation (EFS) apparatus for treatment of cancer, the apparatus comprising:
 a first electrical coil;   a second electrical coil;   a third electrical coil;   a fourth electrical coil; and   a controller electrically coupled to each of the first, second, third and fourth coils, wherein the controller is configured to:
 perform a first EFS pulse where the first and second electrical coils have a counterclockwise current while the third and fourth coils have a clockwise current; 
 perform a second EFS pulse where the first and third electrical coils have a counterclockwise current while the second and fourth coils have a clockwise current; and 
 perform a third stimulation pulse where the first and fourth electrical coils have a clockwise current while the second and third coils have a counterclockwise current. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , the controller is configured to:
 perform a fourth EFS pulse where the first and second electrical coils have a clockwise current while the third and fourth coils have a counterclockwise current;   perform a fifth EFS pulse where the first and third electrical coils have a clockwise current while the second and fourth coils have a counter clockwise current; and   perform a sixth stimulation pulse where the first and fourth electrical coils have a counterclockwise current while the second and third coils have a clockwise current.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first, second, third and fourth coils are disposed within an applicator, wherein the applicator comprises two layers of fabric, and wherein the first, second, third and fourth coils are disposed between the two layers of fabric. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first, second and third electrical stimulation pulses are rectangular pulses with a duration in the range of 5 µs to 1000 µs. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the first, second and third electrical stimulation pulses are separated by a time delay so that the first, second and third electrical stimulation pulses do not overlap one another. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured generate an electric current maximum in each of the first, second, third and fourth coils in the range of 200 A to 1000 A. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a magnetic inductance in each of the first, second, third and fourth coils in the range of 5 mT to 50 mT. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to repeat the first electrical stimulation pulse a plurality of times before performing the second electrical stimulation pulse. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to apply each of the first, second and third electrical stimulation pulses sequentially. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating a cancerous tumor in a patient, comprising:
 administering to the patient an A3AR agonist; and   after administering the A3AR agonist, providing EFS to the cancerous tumor in at least three different directions to increase expression of A3ARs on a surface of cells of the tumor.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising administering an allosteric enhancer to the patient simultaneously with the A3AR agonist. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the provision of EFS comprises:
 applying an applicator to the patient, the applicator defining a common plane, and comprising in the common plane:
 a first electrical coil; 
 a second electrical coil; 
 a third electrical coil; and 
 a fourth electrical coil; and 
   performing a first EFS pulse where the first and second electrical coils have a counterclockwise current while the third and fourth coils in have a clockwise current;   performing a second EFS pulse where the first and third electrical coils have a counterclockwise current while the second and fourth coils in have a clockwise current; and   performing a third stimulation pulse where the first and fourth electrical coils have a clockwise current while the second and third coils in have a counterclockwise current.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 performing a fourth EFS pulse where the first and second electrical coils have a clockwise current while the third and fourth coils have a counterclockwise current;   performing a fifth EFS pulse where the first and third electrical coils have a clockwise current while the second and fourth coils have a counterclockwise current; and   performing a sixth stimulation pulse where the first and fourth electrical coils have a counterclockwise current while the second and third coils have a clockwise current.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein each of the first, second and third EFS pulses are performed sequentially. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the provision of EFS comprises:
 applying a first pair of electrodes to a patient along a first axis of three mutually orthogonal axes associated with a body of the patient;   applying a second pair of electrodes provided to a patient along a second axis of the three mutually orthogonal axes associated with the body of the patient;   applying a third pair of electrodes provided to the patient along a third orthogonal axis of the three mutually orthogonal axes associated with the body of the patient; and   energizing selectively the first, second and third pairs of coils to generate three dimensional EFS along each of the first, second and third mutually orthogonal axes.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising energizing selectively two of the first, second and third pairs of electrical coils to generate a stimulating electric field along an axis different than the first, second and third orthogonal axes.