Method and apparatus including use of metalloporphyrins for subsequent optimization of radiosurgery and radiotherapy

A method of optimizing radiosurgery/radiotherapy by selectively irradiating a targeted area of tissue, said method comprising the steps of:

• administering a radio-imageable form of Mn(III)meso-tetra (4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine to a patient;
• conducting PET or SPECT to prepare a 3-dimensional image representative of a mapping region of at least a portion of the patient to be treated, the mapping covering an area of the patient larger than a target region, the administered metalloporphyrin enabling high quality imaging through PET or SPECT;
• storing the mapping as reference data in digital form;
• positioning the patient with the mapping region within the target region of a radiosurgical X-ray beaming apparatus;
• selecting a total dose of radiation by measuring the amount of radiation provided by administration of the metalloporphyrin, and summing such amount with the amount of radiation that is provided by the X-ray radiosurgical beam;
• adjusting the amount of radiation provided by the radiosurgical X-ray beam to account for radiation therapy which has already occurred due to radiation therapy provided by the metalloporphyrin;
• activating the X-ray beaming apparatus to emit an X-ray beam to cause the target region to become necrotic;
• conducting another PET or SPECT during the time in which the radiosurgical X-ray beaming apparatus is activated;
• producing electronic images representative of the PET or SPECT taken during activation of the x-ray beaming apparatus;
• comparing the images taken during mapping with the images taken during activation of the X-ray beam to provide position data representative of relative spacial locations of the beam and of the target region;
• adjusting the relative position of the X-ray beaming apparatus in such a manner that the beam is focused onto the target region maintaining the beaming apparatus in its activated state for the time necessary to provide a desired amount of radiation;
• completing said comparing step at selected time intervals using newly produced real-time images such that any movement of the target region relative to a focus of the X-ray beam is detected in substantially real-time;
• and
• repeating said adjusting step, as needed, to maintain focus of the X-ray beam on the target region.

An apparatus for carrying out radiosurgery by selectively irradiating a targeted area of tissue within a patient, and by providing a selected dose of radiation through administration of an irradiating compound in conjunction with the radiosurgery, comprising:

• a computer including data storage memory having stored therein a 3-dimensional mapping of at least a portion of the patient, the mapping covering a mapping region that is larger than a target region;
• a beaming apparatus adapted to emit a radiosurgical beam of radiation sufficient to cause the target region to become necrotic;
• means for providing digital electronic images of the target region during activation of said radiosurgical beam, said means for providing including PET or SPECT which produces said images based on a metalloporphyrin previously administered to the patient;
• means for comparing the 3-dimensional mapping with real-time images taken during activation of said radiosurgical beam;
• and
• means for adjusting the relative position of the beaming apparatus and the patient as needed due to any movement of the target region relative to the radiosurgical beam in response to the comparison of the 3-dimensional mapping and image data taken during activation thereby ensuring that the radiosurgical beam is continuously focused onto the target region.

An apparatus for carrying out radiosurgery by selectively irradiating a targeted area of tissue within a patient, and by providing a selected dose of radiation through administration of an irradiating compound in conjunction with the radiosurgery, comprising:

• a computer including data storage memory having stored therein a 3-dimensional mapping of at least a portion of the patient, the mapping covering a mapping region that is larger than a target region and achieved by PET or SPECT scanning;
• a beaming apparatus adapted to emit a radiosurgical beam of radiation sufficient to cause the target region to become necrotic;
• means for providing digital electronic images of the target region during activation of said radiosurgical beam, said means for providing including PET or SPECT which produces said images based on a radio-imageable form of Mn(III)meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine previously administered to the patient;
• means for comparing the 3-dimensional mapping with real-time images taken during activation of said radiosurgical beam;
• and
• means for adjusting the relative position of the beaming apparatus and the patient as needed due to any movement of the target region relative to the radiosurgical beam in response to the comparison of the 3-dimensional mapping and image data taken during activation thereby ensuring that the radiosurgical beam is continuously focused onto the target region.