$PVCT: PV-10 + Radiotherapy by Foote et al.

Recall the combination of PV-10 + radiotherapy: Foote et al.'s initial and ongoing work combining PV-10 and radiotherapy are showing dramatic improvement for patients with much later stage disease (Stage IV) and heavy tumor burden.

A recent article on Princess Alexandra Hospital (Australia) radiation oncologist Dr. Matthew Foote, MD highlighted stereotactic body radiation therapy, where radiation is delivered at sub-millimeter precision (1 millimeter is equal to about 4 hundredths of an inch) to treat cancerous tumors while minimizing harm to normal tissue. By beng precise in its direction, Dr. Foote is able to "...crank up the dose of radiation." Craig historically has held the view that other drugs killed cancers through toxicity rather than tumor tissue specificity, and thus had poor efficacy and problematic side effects. The drugs killed normal tissue, leaked out and systemically poisoned patients, preventing the proper and effective stimulation of the immune system. It is interesting to note "targeted radiotherapy" is better than less precisely delivered radiotherapy.

In the article, Dr. Foote is quoted as saying "There’s evidence that the body’s immune system can fight melanoma so a high radiation dose can actually help stimulate the patient’s immune system to then fight off the melanoma."

Also recall the work by Tan and Nehaus: "Novel use of Rose Bengal (PV-10) in two cases of refractory scalp sarcoma." In the two cases highlighted by the authors, the approach was backwards. Yet, the “backwards” approach yielded good results on refractory sarcoma. Why backwards? Recall Foote et al.’s past and current work: PV-10 first, followed by radiotherapy. That appears to be the right treatment order.

Perhaps Dr. Foote will try PV-10 first, followed by targeted radiotherapy.

When Provectus provided an update about Dr. Foote's PV-10 + radiotherapy trial in October 2012, 7 subjects were enrolled.

Around January 2013, it appeared at least 10 patients have been treated, a follow-up to the success of their initial work on 3 patients.

I gather [but not from the company] half of the contemplated 30-patient trial has been enrolled.