US 2026/0124444 A1 · MODIFYING PH OF TISSUE TO REVERSE IMMUNOSUPRESSION

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include methods of targeting acidosis (low pH) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) through the use of cathodic electrochemical reactions (CER). Low pH is oncogenic by supporting immunosuppression. Electrochemical reactions create local pH effects when a current passes through an electrolytic substrate such as biological tissue. Electrolysis has been used with electroporation (destabilization of the lipid bilayer via an applied electric potential) to increase cell death areas. However, the regulated increase of pH through only the cathode electrode has been ignored as a possible method to alleviate TME acidosis, which could provide substantial immunotherapeutic benefits. Here, ex vivo modeling shows that CERs can intentionally elevate pH to an anti-tumor level and that increased alkalinity promotes activation of naïve macrophages. Embodiments of the invention include pairing CER treatment protocols with existing electric field-based cancer therapies or use as a stand-alone therapy.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of providing electrical energy therapy comprising:

applying a first set of electrical pulses to a target region sufficient to induce high-frequency irreversible electroporation (H-FIRE) or irreversible electroporation (IRE);
and
applying a second set of electrical pulses to the target region insufficient to induce electroporation, and sufficient to change the pH of the target region, by way of a cathode electrode disposed at the target region and an anode electrode disposed away from the target region.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Modifying ph of tissue to reverse immunosupression

Life of this patent

Modifying ph of tissue to reverse immunosupression

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19