Method for treating a neoplastic disorder

1. A method for treating a cancer or tumor in a subject, the method consisting essentially of:

administering to cancer or tumor cells of the cancer or tumor a thermosensitizing amount of a neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition comprising a poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide) copolymer having the chemical formula of:

HO—(C 2 H 4 O) a (C 3 H 6 O) b (C 2 H 4 O) a —H,

where “a” is about 2 to about 130 and “b” is about 16 to about 70, the copolymer sensitizing the cancer or tumor cells to hyperthermia; and

applying energy to the sensitized cancer or tumor cells to heat and ablate the sensitized cancer or tumor cells.

2. The method of claim 1 , the copolymer having the chemical formula of:

HO—(C 2 H 4 O) 26 (C 3 H 6 O) 40 (C 2 H 4 O) 26 —H.

3. The method of claim 1 , the neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition being injected directly into the tumor.

4. The method of claim 1 , the neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition being administered parenterally.

5. The method of claim 1 , the neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition being administered by intravenous injection.

6. The method of claim 1 , the energy comprising at least one of ultrasonic energy or electromagnetic energy.

7. The method of claim 6 , the electromagnetic energy comprising at least one of radiofrequency (RF) energy, x-ray energy, infrared radiation, far infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation, a visible light, microwave energy or γ-ray radiation.

8. The method of claim 7 , the electromagnetic energy comprising RF energy and the RF energy being applied to the sensitized tumor or cancer cells to heat and ablate the sensitized tumor or cancer cells.

9. A method for treating a tumor in a subject, the method consisting essentially of:

administering to neoplastic cells of the tumor a thermosensitizing amount of a neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition comprising a poloxamer having the chemical formula of:

HO—(C 2 H 4 O) a (C 3 H 6 O) b (C 2 H 4 O) a —H,

where “a” is about 2 to about 130 and “b” is about 16 to about 70, the poloxamer sensitizing the tumor to hyperthermia; and

applying energy to the sensitized neoplastic cells of the tumor to heat and ablate the sensitized neoplastic cells.

10. The method of claim 9 , the poloxamer having the chemical formula of:

HO—(C 2 H 4 O) 26 (C 3 H 6 O) 40 (C 2 H 4 O) 26 —H.

11. The method of claim 9 , the neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition being injected directly into the tumor.

12. The method of claim 9 , the neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition being administered intravenously.

13. The method of claim 9 , the energy comprising at least one of electromagnetic energy or ultrasonic energy.

14. The method of claim 9 , the energy comprising RF energy and the RF energy being applied to the sensitized tumor cells to heat and ablate the sensitized tumor cells.

15. A method for treating a tumor in a subject, the method consisting essentially of:

administering to neoplastic cells of the tumor a thermosensitizing amount of neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition comprising a poloxamer having the chemical formula of:

HO—(C 2 H 4 O) a (C 3 H 6 O) b (C 2 H 4 O) a —H,

where “a” is about 2 to about 130 and “b” is about 16 to about 70, the poloxamer sensitizing the neoplastic cells to radiofrequency ablation; and

ablating the sensitized neoplastic cells of the tumor with radiofrequency energy.

16. The method of claim 15 , the poloxamer having the chemical formula of:

HO—(C 2 H 4 O) 26 (C 3 H 6 O) 40 (C 2 H 4 O) 26 —H.

17. The method of claim 15 , the neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition being administered directly to the neoplastic cells.

18. The method of claim 15 , the neoplastic cell-sensitizing composition being administered intravenously.