Tumor Treating Fields Therapy for Cancer Mitosis Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, often fail to provide a desired level of efficacy in addressing rapidly dividing cancer cells, as they do not effectively disrupt the mitotic process in cancerous cells.
Innovation Solution
Combining TTF (tumor treating fields) electrical field therapy with other cancer therapies, such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation therapy, to disrupt mitosis by interfering with the alignment of key proteins involved in cellular division, thereby halting cellular division and inducing apoptosis in cancerous cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cancer therapies (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) are used, then cancer treatment is provided, but the mitotic process in cancerous cells is not effectively disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines TTF electrical field therapy with conventional cancer therapies (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy) to create a composite treatment approach. The electrical fields are applied concurrently or sequentially with these therapies to disrupt mitosis in cancer cells, thereby enhancing the overall therapeutic efficacy while addressing the limitation of conventional therapies alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an electrical field-based mechanism to disrupt the mechanical process of mitosis in cancer cells. The TTF electrical fields interfere with the alignment of proteins involved in cellular division, replacing or supplementing the mechanical action of conventional therapies with an electrical field that specifically targets the mitotic process.
2Reliability
If TTF electrical field therapy is applied alone, then mitosis is disrupted and cellular division is halted, but the combination with other therapies enhances overall efficacy
Solution Approach 1:
The TTF electrical field therapy is designed to be universally compatible with multiple cancer treatment modalities including surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. The system can be integrated into various treatment protocols and administered at different stages (before, during, or after other therapies), providing versatile application across different cancer treatment scenarios while maintaining its core function of disrupting mitosis.
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 combination therapy effectively delays mitosis and induces mitotic synchronization in cancerous cells, enhancing the efficacy of cancer treatment by promoting cell death and improving treatment outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
applying one or more TTF electrical fields at or near a site of a cancerous tumor... disrupting mitosis within a population of cancerous cells by interfering with an alignment of key proteins involved in cellular division
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to methods, devices, and systems for the treatment of cancer tumor by combining TTF electrical field therapy with other types of cancer therapies. In an embodiment, a method for providing cancer therapy is included, the method applying one or more TTF electrical fields at or near a site of a cancerous tumor, a surgical excision site, and/or a targeted therapy site of a subject and administering a non-electrical field based cancer therapy to the subject, wherein applying the TTF electrical fields is performed before, after, and/or simultaneously with administering the non-electrical field based cancer therapy. Other embodiments are also included herein.