Ethanol–Curcumin Immuno-Ablation Composition for Solid Tumors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current ethanol ablation treatments for solid tumors, while effective, face challenges such as high-dose multiple sessions, large fluid volumes, limited efficacy in non-capsulated tumors, and frequent recurrence, particularly in conditions like hepatocellular carcinoma, due to incomplete ablation and ineffective immune response against the tumor microenvironment.

Innovation Solution

A composition combining ethanol with an anti-cancer immune modulator, such as curcumin, is injected into tumors to enhance tumor volume reduction and immune response, modulating the inflammatory tumor microenvironment by increasing CD8+IFN-γ+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and IL-17+CD4+ Th 17 cells, decreasing Foxp3+CD4+ regulatory T cells and neutrophils, and inhibiting JAK-STAT and NF-κβ pathways.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high-dose multiple ethanol ablation sessions are used, then tumor ablation efficacy is improved, but treatment complexity and patient burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetumor ablation efficacyVSAvoidtreatment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines ethanol ablation with curcumin immunomodulation into a single unified treatment composition. This merging allows simultaneous delivery of both ethanol (for direct tumor cell necrosis) and curcumin (for immune system activation) in one injection session, eliminating the need for multiple separate treatment sessions and reducing overall treatment complexity while maintaining efficacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment uses a composite composition containing ethanol and curcumin together. This composite approach allows the two agents to work synergistically - ethanol provides immediate cytotoxic effect while curcumin modulates the tumor microenvironment and enhances immune response, achieving better results in a single application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Volume of moving object

If large fluid volumes are injected, then ablation coverage is improved, but tissue damage and complications increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation coverageVSAvoidtissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the injection solution by adding curcumin to ethanol. This parameter modification allows the treatment to achieve effective ablation coverage with reduced fluid volumes, as curcumin enhances the overall therapeutic effect and allows for more concentrated, less voluminous injections that still provide adequate coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If traditional ethanol ablation is used, then treatment simplicity is maintained, but immune response against tumor microenvironment remains ineffective

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment simplicityVSAvoidimmune response efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges ethanol ablation with curcumin immunomodulation into a single composition that maintains the simplicity of ethanol injection while adding immune system activation capabilities. The combined composition can be administered through the same injection procedure, preserving ease of operation while significantly improving immune response efficacy against the tumor microenvironment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Reliability

If multiple treatment sessions are required, then ablation completeness is improved, but treatment time and patient burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveablation completenessVSAvoidtreatment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines ethanol's immediate cytotoxic action with curcumin's immunomodulatory effects in a single treatment session. This merging allows the treatment to achieve both complete ablation and immune system activation simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple sequential sessions and reducing total treatment time while maintaining ablation completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The ethanol-curcumin combination significantly reduces tumor volume by at least 50% and enhances the immune response, characterized by decreased activation of STAT3, p65, and PD-L1, thereby improving treatment efficacy and preventing tumor recurrence.

Implementation Method 1

ethanol ablation employs direct infusion of ethanol into malignant tissue to induce necrosis through protein denaturation and cytoplasmic dehydration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectProtein denaturation:

Implementation Method 2

ethanol ablation employs direct infusion of ethanol into malignant tissue to induce necrosis through protein denaturation and cytoplasmic dehydration

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCytoplasmic dehydration: Desiccation

Implementation Method 3

inhibiting JAK-STAT and NF-κβ pathways

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJAK-STAT pathway inhibition:

Implementation Method 4

inhibiting JAK-STAT and NF-κβ pathways

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNF-κβ pathway inhibition:

Data Source

PatentUS20250325499A1Immuno-ablation treatment for solid tumors

Publication Date: 2025.10.23 NORTHWESTERN UNIV

AI summary

The present disclosure describes immune-ethanol ablation compositions comprising ethanol and curcumin for treatment of solid tumors. Also described herein are methods of using the immune-ethanol ablation compositions to treat solid tumor cancers and enhance anticancer immune activation.