Tumor imaging with x-rays and other high energy sources using as contrast agents photon-emitting phosphors having therapeutic properties

A system for imaging and treating a disease in a human or animal body, comprising:

• a pharmaceutical carrier including one or more phosphors which are capable of emitting ultraviolet or visible light into the body and which provide x-ray contrast;
• one or more devices which infuse a diseased site with a photoactivatable drug and the pharmaceutical carrier;
• an initiation energy source comprising an x-ray or high energy source which irradiates the diseased site with at least one of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to thereby initiate emission of said ultraviolet or visible light into the body;
• and
• a processor programmed to 1) produce images of the diseased site and 2) control a dose of said x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons to the diseased site for production of said ultraviolet or visible light at the diseased site to activate the photoactivatable drug,
• wherein the processor further controls the x-ray, gamma rays, or electrons during a booster treatment repeated on a periodic basis after an initial treatment of the diseased site, wherein, in the booster treatment, at least one of phosphor concentration, photoactivatable drug concentration, and the dose of x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons is increased by a factor of at least two times, five times, or ten times respective initial values, wherein the booster treatment comprises one of (i) an additional administration of the photoactivatable drug to the diseased site followed by radiating the diseased site with the x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons;
• (ii) an additional administration of the photoactivatable drug and the pharmaceutical carrier including the one or more phosphors to the diseased site followed by radiating the diseased site with the x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons;
• or (iii) irradiating the diseased site with x-rays, gamma rays, or electrons at a palliative or therapeutic level;
• wherein the booster treatment activates an immune response that was initially or originally generated within the human or animal body prior to the booster treatment during initial treatments.