Use of photodynamic therapy to treat prostatic tissue

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for diagnosing or treating prostatic tissue in a human or animal patient which comprises sensitizing the prostatic tissue with an effective amount of a photosensitive composition which accumulates in the prostatic tissue and exposing the sensitized tissue to a source of light energy for a predetermined time and intensity sufficient to cause cellular and/or tissue function of the sensitized prostatic tissue to diminish or cease.

1 . A method for diagnosing or treating prostatic tissue in a human or animal patient comprising: (a) sensitizing prostatic tissue with an effective amount of a photosensitive composition which is accumulates in the tissue and thereafter (b) exposing the sensitized prostate tissue to a source of light energy for a predetermined period of time and at a predetermined wavelength, whereby the photosensitive composition in the light-exposed prostatic tissue absorbs the light or undergoes a photochemical reaction.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the prostatic tissue is exposed to the light energy at a predetermined time after the photosensitive composition is administered to the patient.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , which further includes treating the prostatic tissue with hyperthermic therapy.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , in which a light delivery means having a transparent or translucent distal end is positioned adjacent or within the patient's sensitized prostatic tissue prior for delivery of the light energy to the prostate tissue.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the source of light energy comprises a laser, LED device or lamp.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the light energy is delivered to the patient's prostate tissue by a light delivery means comprising an optical fiber which radially diffuses light.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the photosensitive composition is administered orally, topically, intravenously, subcutaneously, rectally, or by direct injection into the patient's tissue.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the photosensitive composition is administered to the patient in an amount of about 0.05-10.0 mg/kg of the patient's weight.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , in which the patient's bladder and sphincter muscles are protected from exposure to the light by placing an opaque and/or reflective material at a point beyond the patient's prostate.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , in which the opaque and/or reflective material comprises a portion of a balloon placed within the patient's urethra.  
     
     
         11 . An apparatus for diagnosing or treating prostatic tissue comprising: 
 a catheter for insertion through a patient's prostatic urethral lumen, the catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;    the catheter comprising at least one axially extending opening therethrough for receiving a light delivery means;    the light delivery means having a transparent or translucent distal end and an opaque and/or reflective proximal end;    the light delivery means being operatively connected to a source of light energy for delivering light to the distal end of the light delivery means.    
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a flexible resilient balloon is operatively mounted on the distal end of the catheter for insertion of the balloon into the patient's bladder.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein a second flexible, resilient balloon is coaxially mounted on the catheter adjacent the distal end of the catheter for receiving a transparent or translucent material.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the second balloon comprises a transparent or translucent material, the second balloon having an opaque and/or reflective material on a distal end thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein an opaque and/or reflective stop means is positioned adjacent the distal end of the catheter.  
     
     
         16 . A method for relieving the symptoms of a patient suffering with a prostatic disorder comprising: 
 (a) administering to the patient an effective amount of a photosensitive composition at a point in time prior to irradiation of the prostatic tissue with the apparatus of claim  11 ;    (b) inserting the catheter into the patient's urethra;    (c) inserting the light delivery means through the catheter;    (d) determining the position of the light delivery means relative to the prostatic tissue and surrounding tissue of the patient to ensure that the distal end of the light delivery means is adjacent the prostate tissue;    (e) irradiating the prostate tissue by delivering light energy through the distal end of the light delivery means to the prostatic tissue; the light energy being delivered for a predetermined time and at a predetermined wavelength sufficient to effectively treat the prostatic tissue; and,    (f) removing the catheter and the light delivery means from the urethra of the patient.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  which further includes treating the prostatic tissue with hyperthermic therapy.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a first balloon is operatively connected to the distal end of the catheter, which method further comprises delivering a suitable quantity of a fluid material into the first balloon prior to insertion of the light delivery means into the catheter.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a coaxially extending transparent or translucent second balloon is placed adjacent the distal end of the catheter for receiving a transparent or translucent material; which method further comprises delivering a suitable quantity of the transparent or translucent material into the second balloon prior to irradiating the prostate tissue.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the distal end of the catheter further comprises a stop means; which method further comprises positioning the stop means adjacent the patient's bladder and sphincter muscle to ensure placement of the catheter within the urethra at a point spaced apart from the sphincter muscle and bladder of the patient.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for diagnosing or treating prostatic tissue comprising: 
 a means for receiving a light delivery means;    the light delivery means having a distal transparent or translucent end and a proximal opaque end;    the light delivery means being connected to a source of light energy for delivering light to the distal end of the light delivery means.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the means for receiving the light delivery means comprises a needle.  
     
     
         23 . A method for relieving the symptoms of a patient suffering with prostatic disorders comprising: 
 (a) administering to the patient an effective amount of a photosensitive composition at a point in time prior to irradiation of the prostate tissue with the apparatus of claim  22 ;    (b) inserting the needle into the patient's prostatic tissue;    (c) inserting the light delivery means through the needle;    (d) determining the position of the light delivery means relative to the prostate and surrounding tissue of the patient to ensure that the distal end of the light delivery means is properly positioned adjacent the prostate tissue;    (e) removing the needle from the prostatic tissue and leaving the light delivery means adjacent the prostatic tissue;    (f) irradiating the prostatic tissue by delivering light energy through the distal end of the light delivery means to the prostatic tissue; the light energy being delivered for a predetermined time at a predetermined wavelength sufficient to effectively treat the prostatic tissue; and,    (g) removing the light delivery means from the prostatic tissue of the patient.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  which further includes treating the prostate tissue with hyperthermic therapy.