Devices and methods for the treatment of cancer
The invention relates to the treatment of cancer. In particular the invention relates to an internal therapeutic product comprising: (i) an anti-cancer component selected from one or both of: a radionucleotide, a cytotoxic drug; and (ii) a silicon component selected from one or more of: resorbable silicon, biocompatible silicon, bioactive silicon, porous silicon, polycrystalline silicon, amorphous silicon, and bulk crystalline silicon, the internal therapeutic product being for the treatment of cancer.
1. A method of treating cancer by brachytherapy, the method comprising forming a therapeutic product which comprises non-derivatized porous silicon, doping the silicon with phosphorus, transmuting the phosphorus doped silicon to form a 32 P radionucleotide and implanting the therapeutic product into a tumor.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the therapeutic product comprises at least one microparticle, the microparticles having a size in the range 0.1 to 100 microns.
3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the microparticles have a size in the range 20 to 50 microns.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the method comprises implanting the therapeutic product into an organ.
5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the method comprises the step of implanting the therapeutic product into one or more of: a liver, a lung, a kidney, and a prostate.