Method for Precise Identification, Targeting and Delivery of Directed Therapies for Destruction of Cancerous Cells

Abstract

This invention teaches systems and methods for identifying, targeting and destroying cancer cells with a cell-killing vector attracted to signature elements common to most cancer cells. As cells progress from a normal to a cancerous state their accelerated metabolic rates and adapted pathways generate excess amounts of H+ (resulting in a locally reduced pH) along with a higher heat signature that can serve as a targeting beacon for a specialized cell killing vectors such as a virus and/or a liposome. The cancer cell's heat/pH signature in large part is due to the cell's decreased reliance on mitochondria and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. A lactate overload built up using the alternative ATP generation pathway must be excreted by the cell. Co-transport of H+/lactate is accomplished mainly through a mono-carboxylate transporter 4 protein (MCT4). The present invention while using the pH/heat signature as a delivery adjunct increases targeted killing effectiveness by improving the cell killer vector targeting with a protein capable of binding MCT4. The higher concentration of vector in contact with the targeted cells enhances the heat and pH associated delivery of lethal agents.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.