Method of diagnosis and treatment of breast lesions
AssigneeCytyc Health Corporation
InventorDavid Hung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for administering diagnostic and therapeutic agents into a breast duct. A thymidine kinase vector may be administered into a breast duct in conjunction with an acycloguanidine compound for enhanced imaging on PET scanning of the breast to detect breast lesions. The thymidine kinase phosphoraylates the acycloguanidine compound to enhance visibility of lesions on PET scan. An acyclic nucleoside compound may be administered into the breast duct to form phosphorylated adducts that phosphorylate DNA and kill thymidine kinase expressing cancer cells.
Claims20
A method for imaging breast lesions in a breast, the method comprising:
- delivering a vector comprising a thymidine kinase gene into a breast duct of the breast;
- administering an acycloguanidine compound into the breast duct;
- and
- imaging the breast.
A method for imaging and treating breast lesions, the method comprising:
- delivering a vector comprising a thymidine kinase gene into a breast duct of the breast;
- administering an acycloguanidine compound into the breast duct;
- administering to the breast duct an effective amount of an acyclic nucleoside compound wherein cancer cells are killed.
An apparatus for administering an agent into a breast duct comprising:
- a catheter capable of being inserted into a breast duct;
- a chamber containing a vector comprising a thymidine kinase gene.
An apparatus for administering an agent into a breast duct comprising:
- a catheter capable of being inserted into a breast duct;
- a chamber containing an acyclic nucleoside compound.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.