One aspect of the present disclosure relates a method of diagnosis and/or treatment of a solid tumor. The method includes directly measuring neural activity within a solid tumor for a time and determining a state of the solid tumor based on the neural activity. The diagnosis and/or treatment can be determined based on the state of the solid tumor. In some instances, the neural activity can be used in a closed loop to detect the neural activity, determine the state, determine the risk, apply treatment, check again for neural activity, and cease treatment when the neural activity is gone.

Cancer treatment methods using thermotherapy and/or enhanced immunotherapy are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the method comprising the steps of: (i) applying controlled thermal energy at 40-43° C. for a first predetermined time period to damage and weaken tumor cells of a tumor in a patient; (ii) administering pulsed high intensity focused ultrasound (pHIFU) in a first ultrasound mode to the tumor cells in the patient so as to damage the tumor cells without increasing the thermal energy; and (iii) administering low intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) in a second ultrasound mode to further damage the tumor cells at a temperature of 39-43° C. for a second predetermined time period while performing observation of the tumor cells by ultrasonic thermometry.

Improved hydrogel configurations for use with a TTField-generating system is disclosed. Also disclosed are kits containing the improved hydrogel configurations and methods of producing and using the improved hydrogel configurations.

A method of treating tumors by the delivery of tumor treating electric fields to a patient. The method including the steps of placing an electrode array on the patient; running a temperature analysis mode of the electrode array to provide a temperature analysis; determining which subarrays of the electrode array have neutral non tumor treating field firings inserted into a firing configuration based on the temperature analysis; and treating the patient using the firing configuration to deliver tumor treating fields to the patient.

Certain substances (e.g., large molecules) that ordinarily cannot traverse the cell membrane of cells can be introduced into cells by applying an alternating electric field to the cell for a period of time, wherein the frequency of the alternating electric field is selected so that application of the alternating electric field increases permeability of the cell membrane. Once the permeability of the cell membrane has been increased, the substance is able to cross the cell membrane. This approach is particularly useful in the context of cancer cells (e.g., glioblastoma).

Methods of treating and preventing cancer are provided. In some instances, the method comprises delivering radioactive particles to an organ of the subject, wherein the organ contains a tumor, applying alternating electric fields to the organ at a frequency of 50 kHz to 10 MHz (e.g., 50 kHz to 1 MHz or 80 to 500 kHz), and administering systemic cancer therapy to the subject.

Damaged, diseased, abnormal, obstructive, cancerous or undesired neural tissue treated by delivering specialized pulsed electric field (PEF) energy to target tissue areas. In some instances, the target tissue includes a tumor, a benign tumor, a malignant tumor, a cyst, or an area of diseased tissue. Most brain and spinal cord tumors develop from glial cells. These tumors are sometimes referred to as a group called gliomas. They arise from the supporting cells of the brain, called the glia. These cells are subdivided into astrocytes, ependymal cells and oligodendroglial cells (or oligos). One difficulty in the treatment of gliomas is that they are behind the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and blood-tumor barrier (BTB) which leads to poor delivery of anti-cancer drugs or immune agents to the tumor-infiltrated brain. Devices, systems and methods are provided that treat the tumor directly, such as by ablation, and optionally transiently disrupt the BBB coupled with adjuvant antibody, biologic, or other pharmaceutical interventions.

Improved hydrogel configurations for use with a TTField-generating system is disclosed. Also disclosed are kits containing the improved hydrogel configurations and methods of producing and using the improved hydrogel configurations.

A method and apparatus for treatment of cancer is provided. The method can include systemic administration of selective A3 adenosine receptor (A3AR) agonists like CI-IB-MECA (CF 101), LI-529, cordycepin or similar drugs in combination with application of pulsed Electric Field Stimulation (EFS) to the treatment area. A3AR agonists may be delivered in blend with allosteric enhancers of A3AR agonists potency like LUF6000 or other similar drugs. EFS is provided in three or more directions, which significantly increases expression of A3ARs on the cellular membranes and allows achieving a downstream apoptotic signal several-fold stronger than the signal created by an agonist alone. The apparatus may be dedicated to one patient usage over long period of time—hours and days continuously or intermittently.

When treating a subject using alternating electric fields (e.g., using TTFields to treat a tumor), some subjects experience an electrosensation effect when the alternating electric field switches direction. This application describes a variety of approaches for reducing or eliminating this electrosensation. More specifically, during the course of treatment using alternating electric fields, additional electrical signals that reduce the subject's sensation are applied during each of a plurality of time intervals, and these additional electrical signals interact with the relevant nerve cells to reduce the sensations.