Claims
- 1. A method of enhancing apoptosis mediated destruction of target cells, comprising
(a) exposing the target cells to an amount of a photosensitizer sufficient to permit an effective amount to localize in the cells; (b) permitting sufficient time to elapse to allow an effective amount of the photosensitizer to localize in the target cells; and (c) irradiating the target cells with light absorbed by the photosensitizer at an sufficient energy level to induce apoptosis; and (d) contacting said cells with an apoptosis-inducing agent.
- 2. A method of enhancing the destruction of target cells, which method comprises
contacting said target cells with an apoptosis-inducing agent after photodynamic therapy (PDT) of said cells to induce apoptosis mediated target cell destruction.
- 3. A method of activating caspase activity in cells comprising
contacting said cells with an apoptosis-inducing agent after PDT of said cells, resulting in induction of caspase activity.
- 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the PDT comprises the use of a green porphyrin as the photosensitizer.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein said apoptosis-inducing agent is selected from FasL, TRAIL, recombinant forms of FasL or TRAIL, or any combination thereof.
- 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said apoptosis-inducing agent is FasL or a recombinant form thereof which retains apoptosis inducing activity.
- 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said apoptosis-inducing agent is TRAIL or a recombinant form thereof which retains apoptosis inducing activity.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said apoptosis-inducing agent is a recombinant form of TRAIL comprising the C-terminal receptor binding domain and a leucine zipper.
- 9. The method of claim 2 wherein said PDT comprises exposure to photosensitizer and said contacting with apoptosis-inducing agent is by intravenous or systemic administration.
- 10. The method of claim 1 wherein said PDT comprises exposure to photosensitizer by localized administration.
- 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said PDT comprises irradiation localized to the target cells.
- 12. The method of claim 1 wherein said PDT comprises irradiation localized to the target cells.
- 13. The method of claim 1 wherein said target cells are tumor cells or smooth muscle cells.
- 14. The method of claim 2 wherein said target cells are tumor cells or smooth muscle cells.
- 15. The method of claim 9 wherein said photosensitizer is a green porphyrin.
- 16. The method of claim 9 wherein said photosensitizer is administered locally.
- 17. The method of claim 9 wherein said PDT comprises irradiation localized to the target cells.
- 18. The method of claim 2 wherein said apoptosis-inducing agent is selected from FasL, TRAIL, recombinant forms of FasL or TRAIL, or any combination thereof.
- 19. The method of claim 3 wherein said apoptosis-inducing agent is selected from FasL, TRAIL, recombinant forms of FasL or TRAIL, or any combination thereof.
- 20. The method of claim 3 wherein the PDT comprises the use of a green porphyrin as the photosensitizer.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/121,770, filed Feb. 26, 1999, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, as if fully set forth.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60121770 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09513222 |
Feb 2000 |
US |
Child |
10193003 |
Jul 2002 |
US |