Immune mediated cancer cell destruction, systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering electric fields to a target tissue of a patient for destruction of cancerous cells so as to elicit or induce a specific anti-cancerous cell immune response in the patient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for delivering electric fields to a target tissue of a patient for destruction of cancerous cells, comprising:
 establishing an electrical current flow through a volume of the target tissue so as to preferentially destroy cancerous cells in the volume and induce a specific anti-cancerous cell immune response in the host patient.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current flow is selected such that thermal based protein coagulation and denaturation in the cancerous cells or tissue is substantially avoided. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering an immunostimulatory agent or adjuvant. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target tissue is heated to less than about 50 degrees C. during a phase of treatment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current flow provides a voltage field less than about 50 V/cm. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current flow comprises a frequency between about 50 kHz and about 300 kHz. 
     
     
         7 . A method for delivering electric fields to a target tissue of a patient for destruction of cancerous cells, comprising:
 identifying a first target tissue site and a second target tissue site; and   eliciting destruction of cancerous cells of the first target tissue site comprising establishing an electrical current flow through a volume of the second target tissue so as to preferentially destroy cancerous cells in the volume and induce a specific host anti-cancerous cell immune response so as to control growth of cancerous cells at a location remote from the second target tissue that have not directly received electrical current flow.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein cancerous cells have been seeded at the second target tissue site. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising systemically or locally administering an immunostimulatory agent or adjuvant. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrical current flow is selected such that thermal based protein coagulation and denaturation in the cancerous cells or tissue is substantially avoided. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second target tissue is heated to less than about 50 degrees C. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrical current flow provides a voltage field less than about 50 V/cm. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the electrical current flow comprises a frequency between about 50 kHz and about 300 kHz. 
     
     
         14 . A system for delivering electric fields to a target tissue of a patient for destruction of cancerous cells, comprising:
 a probe comprising one or more electrodes and configured to establish an electrical current flow through a volume of the target tissue so as to preferentially destroy cancerous cells in the volume and induce a specific anti-cancerous cell immune response in the host patient.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the probe is configured to deliver an electrical current flow selected such that thermal based protein coagulation and denaturation in the cancerous cells or tissue is substantially avoided. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , where in the probe further comprises a delivery unit for administering an immunostimulatory agent or adjuvant. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising an energy source coupled to the probe. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the probe further comprises an array of the one or more electrodes defining an ablation volume. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the probe is configured to radiate current radially or in a plurality of different directions. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a biopsy unit for seeding the target tissue in a patient.