Diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy for melanoma

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023143006-A1
Application number	US-202318094424-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 9, 2023
Priority date	Jun 10, 2021
Publication date	May 11, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for treating a tumor, comprising identifying a tumor as a melanoma tumor and implanting in the tumor identified as a melanoma tumor, as least one diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source (21) with a suitable radon release rate and for a given duration, such that the source (21) provides during the given duration a cumulated activity of released radon between 3.2 Mega becquerel (MBq) hour and 7.5 MBq hour, per centimeter length.

First claim

1 . A method for treating a melanoma tumor, comprising:
identifying a tumor as a melanoma tumor; and implanting in the tumor identified as a melanoma tumor, as least one diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source with a suitable radon release rate and for a given duration, such that the source provides during the given duration a cumulated activity of released radon between 3.2 Mega becquerel (MBq) hour and 7.5 MBq hour, per centimeter length.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein implanting the as least one radiotherapy source comprises implanting an array of sources, each source separated from its neighboring sources in the array by not more than 4 millimeters.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein implanting the as least one radiotherapy source comprises implanting an array of sources in a hexagonal arrangement, each source separated from its neighboring sources in the array by not more than 4 millimeters.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the as least one radiotherapy source has a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the as least one radiotherapy source has a radon release rate of between 0.8 and 1.5 microcurie per centimeter length.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises selecting the given duration before implanting the at least one DaRT source in the tumor, and removing the sources from the tumor after the given duration from the implanting of the sources passed.

7 . A method of preparing a radiotherapy treatment, comprising:
identifying a tumor as a melanoma tumor; receiving an image of the melanoma tumor; and providing a layout of diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) sources for the melanoma tumor, wherein the sources have a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein providing the layout comprises providing a layout in which a spacing between sources in the tumor is 4 millimeters or less.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the sources have a radon release rate of between 0.8 and 1.5 microcurie per centimeter length.

10 . An apparatus for preparing a radiotherapy treatment, comprising:
an input interface for receiving information on a tumor; a processor configured to determine that the tumor is a melanoma tumor and to generate a layout of diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) sources for the tumor, wherein the sources in the layout have a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length and the sources in the layout are arranged in a regular pattern having a distance between adjacent sources of not more than 5 millimeters; and an output interface for displaying the layout to a human operator.

11 . A method of preparing a radiotherapy treatment, comprising:
receiving a request for diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) sources for a melanoma tumor; determining a number of radiotherapy sources required for the melanoma tumor; and providing a kit including the determined number of radiotherapy sources, wherein the sources have a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the number of required radiotherapy sources comprises determining a number of sources required such that the area of the tumor is covered by sources with a spacing between the sources which is not greater than 4 millimeters.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sources have a radon release rate of between 0.8 and 1.5 microcurie per centimeter length.

14 . A diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source for implantation in a melanoma tumor, wherein the DaRT source has a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length.

15 . The DaRT source of claim 14 , wherein the radon release rate is between 0.9 and 1.4 microcurie per centimeter length.

16 . A kit of diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source for implantation in a melanoma tumor, comprising:
a package; and a plurality of DaRT sources placed in the package, the sources having a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length.

17 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the radon release rate of the sources is between 0.9 and 1.4 microcurie per centimeter length.

18 . A method for treating a tumor, comprising:
identifying a tumor as a melanoma tumor; and implanting in the tumor identified as a melanoma tumor, an array of diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) sources, in a regular arrangement having a spacing between each two adjacent sources of between 3 and 4 millimeters.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein implanting the array of sources comprises implanting in a hexagonal arrangement, each source separated from its neighboring sources in the array by not more than 3.5 millimeters.

20 . A diffusing alpha-emitter radiation therapy (DaRT) source for use in treatment of a melanoma tumor of a patient, the source comprising:
a support having a length of at least 1 millimeter; and radium-224 atoms coupled to the support such that not more than 20% of the radium-224 atoms leave the support into the tumor in 24 hours, without decay, when the source is implanted in the tumor, but upon decay, at least 5% of daughter radionuclides of the radium-224 atoms leave the support upon decay;
characterized in that
the administration pattern of the source comprises implanting the source in the melanoma tumor throughout the tumor, with a spacing between the sources of between 3 and 4.5 millimeters, and
the radiation therapy source has a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length.

21 . The source of claim 20 , wherein the administration pattern of the source comprises implanting the source in the melanoma tumor throughout the tumor, with a spacing between the sources of between 3.1-3.9 millimeters.

22 . The source of claim 20 , wherein the radiation therapy source has a radon release rate of between 0.67 and 1.1 microcurie per centimeter length.

23 . The source of claim 20 , wherein the as least one radiotherapy source has a radon release rate of between 1.25 and 1.6 microcurie per centimeter length.

24 . The source of claim 20 , wherein the administration pattern of the source comprises implanting the source in the melanoma tumor throughout the tumor, in a hexagonal arrangement, each source separated from its neighboring sources in the array by not more than 4 millimeters.

Assignees

• Alpha Tau Medical Ltd

Inventors

• Kelson Itzhak
• Keisari Yona
• Gat Amnon
• Den Robert
• Magen Ofer
• Domankevich Vered
• Arazi Lior
• Cooks Tomer
• Heger Guy
• Dumancic Mirta
• Luz Ishai
• Vatarescu Maayan Hedva

Classifications

• A61N5/1027 Primary

  Interstitial radiation therapy · CPC title

• A61N2005/1024

  Seeds · CPC title

• A61N2005/1087

  Ions; Protons · CPC title

• A61N5/103

  Treatment planning systems · CPC title

• A61N5/1007

  Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body · CPC title