The present invention relates to therapeutic immunoconjugates comprising SN-38 attached to an antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment. The antibody may bind to Trop-2 or CEACAM5 and the immunoconjugate may be administered at a dosage of between 4 mg/kg and 16 mg/kg, preferably 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, or 16 mg/kg. When administered at specified dosages and schedules, the immunoconjugate can reduce solid tumors in size, reduce or eliminate metastases and is effective to treat cancers resistant to standard therapies, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Surprisingly, the immunoconjugate is effective to treat cancers that are refractory to or relapsed from irinotecan.

Nanoclusters comprising inorganic nanocrystals and a biodegradable polymer are disclosed. The inorganic nanocrystals have a mean particle size of 1 to 500 nm. The inorganic nanocrystals are contained within a core of the nanoclusters, on the surface of the nanoclusters, contained within a core of the nanoclusters, dispersed throughout the nanoclusters, or a combination thereof. The biodegradable polymer allows the inorganic nanocrystals to be excreted renally over a period of time. The nanoclusters can be used for medical imaging or other biomedical applications.

Provided are methods of treating a brain tumor in a patient in need thereof comprising administering to the patient a compound described herein and radiation therapy and/or one or more additional therapeutic agents.

The present invention relates to therapeutic ADCs comprising a drug attached to an anti-cancer antibody or antigen-binding antibody fragment. Preferably the drug is SN-38. More preferably the antibody or fragment thereof binds to Trop-2 and the therapy is used to treat a Trop-2 positive cancer. Most preferably the antibody is hRS7. The ADC is administered to a subject with a cancer in combination with an ABCG2 inhibitor. The combination therapy is effective to treat cancers that are resistant to drug alone and/or to ADC alone.

Methods of potentiating chemotherapy or radiotherapy are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need of chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic treatment an effective amount of a composition comprising biocompatible nanoparticles under conditions in which the nanoparticles alter one or more cell regulatory mechanisms in cells in which the nanoparticles are localised or other cells. Then one or more doses of a chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic treatment are administered to the subject either concurrently with or after the nanoparticles have altered the one or more cell regulatory mechanisms in the cells in which the nanoparticles are localised or other cells. Also disclosed are methods of enhancing the effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy on a cell population, methods of increasing the amount of strand breaks in DNA in a cell, and methods of inducing cancer cell death.

The present disclosure relates to a composition for enhancing radiotherapy. The composition may increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation, and thus may be advantageously used to enhance the effect of radiotherapy.

A fluorocarbon emulsion in water for use in fractionated radiotherapy and chemotherapy, wherein said fluorocarbon comprises between 4 and 8 carbon atoms.

The invention concerns a particle and a composition comprising particles and their use in oncology. Specifically, the particles are porous, high-Z and carbon-free particles having internal pores, of longest dimension of at least 0.5 nm, and are for use in altering or destroying target cells in a mammal when said cells are exposed to ionizing radiation.

The present invention also provides a porous, high-Z and carbon-free particle wherein at least part of the porous structure of the particle is occupied by at least one therapeutic agent which is preferably for use in oncology.

Methods of potentiating chemotherapy or radiotherapy are disclosed. The methods comprise administering to a subject in need of chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic treatment an effective amount of a composition comprising biocompatible nanoparticles, particularly gold nanoparticles, under conditions in which the nanoparticles alter one or more cell regulatory mechanisms in cells in which the nanoparticles are localised or other cells. Then one or more doses of a chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic treatment are administered to the subject either concurrently with or after the nanoparticles have altered the one or more cell regulatory mechanisms in the cells in which the nanoparticles are localised or other cells. Also disclosed are methods of enhancing the effects of chemotherapy or radiotherapy on a cell population, methods of increasing the amount of strand breaks in DNA in a cell, and methods of inducing cancer cell death.

The present disclosure is directed to radiation triggered liposomes and their use in delivery and release of pharmaceutical drugs upon exposure to ionizing radiation. In one embodiment liposomes are provided that comprise cholesterol and sphingolipids modified to comprise reactive groups that are activated by ionizing radiation to form crosslinks with other lipids of the liposome causing the release of the liposomal contents.