Devices and methods for the treatment of cancer

Abstract

The invention relates to the treatment of cancer. In particular the invention relates to an internal therapeutic product comprising: (i) an anti-cancer component selected from one or both of: a radionucleotide, a cytotoxic drug; and (ii) a silicon component selected from one or more of: resorbable silicon, biocompatible silicon, bioactive silicon, porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and bulk crystalline silicon, the internal therapeutic product being for the treatment of cancer.

1 . An internal therapeutic product comprising:
 (i) an anti-cancer component comprising at least one radionucleotide; and   (ii) a silicon component wherein the silicon component comprises at least one silicon microparticle having a size range of 0.1 to 100 microns, and wherein the silicon component comprises one or more of: resorbable silicon, biocompatible silicon, bioactive silicon, porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and bulk crystalline silicon; and   wherein the product is in the form of a suspension of microparticles.   
     
     
         2 . An internal therapeutic product according to  claim 1 , wherein the radionucleotide is selected from one or more of:  90 Y,  32 P,  124 Sb,  114 In,  59 Fe,  76 As,  140 La,  47 Ca,  103 Pd,  89 Sr,  131 I,  125 I,  60 Co,  192 Ir,  12 B,  71 Ge,  64 Cu,  203 Pb and  198 Au. 
     
     
         3 . A method of treating a cancer by brachytherapy, the method comprising forming a therapeutic product : which comprises doping a silicon component with a radionucleotide and implanting the therapeutic product into the body of a human or animal; wherein the silicon component comprises at least one silicon microparticle, having a size in the range 0.1 to 100 microns, wherein the silicon component comprises one or more of: resorbable silicon, biocompatible silicon, bioactive silicon, porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and bulk crystalline silicon; and
 wherein the product is in the form of a suspension of microparticles.   
     
     
         4 . An internal therapeutic product according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one silicon microparticle has a size in the range 20 to 50 microns. 
     
     
         5 . An internal therapeutic product according to  claim 1 , wherein the silicon component is polycrystalline silicon. 
     
     
         6 . An internal therapeutic product according to  claim 1 , wherein the silicon is non-derivatized silicon. 
     
     
         7 . An internal therapeutic product according to  claim 1 , wherein the silicon is derivatized porous silicon. 
     
     
         8 . An internal therapeutic product according to  claim 2  wherein the radionucleotide is  32 P. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treating cancer according to  claim 3  wherein the therapeutic product is implanted into an organ comprising a tumor. 
     
     
         10 . A method of treating cancer according to  claim 3 , wherein the therapeutic product is implanted into one or more of: a liver, a lung, a kidney, and a prostate. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating cancer according to  claim 3 , wherein the therapeutic product is administered by subcutaneous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, or epidermal techniques. 
     
     
         12 . A method of treating cancer according to  claim 3 , wherein the silicon is non-derivatized silicon. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating cancer according to  claim 3 , wherein the radionucleotide comprises one or more of:  90 Y,  32 P,  124 Sb,  114 In,  59 Fe,  76 As,  140 La,  47 Ca,  103 Pd,  89 Sr,  131 I,  125 I,  60 Co,  192 Ir,  12 B,  71 Ge,  64 Cu,  203 Pb and  198 Au. 
     
     
         14 . A method of treating cancer according to  claim 13 , wherein the radionucleotide is  32 P.