Lyndon L Larcom

US Patent:

6970740, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Jun 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/609882

Inventors:

Lyndon L. Larcom - Clemson SC, US
Amy Tuck - Piedmont SC, US
Samuel Smith - Greenville SC, US

Assignee:

Clemson University - Clemson SC

International Classification:

A61N001/30

US Classification:

604 20, 604 19

Abstract:

Leukocytes from leukemia patients have been found to be readily killed by ultra-violet light-C (UVC) radiation. Cells from healthy donors were minimally affected by doses of UVC 10 times higher than those which caused dramatic drops in the metabolism of diseased cells and eventual death. Irradiated cells from leukemia patients and from healthy individuals demonstrated a number of single strand DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites compared to unirradiated control cells. The extent of DNA damage to both healthy and diseased cells is dose dependent. However, the diseased cells demonstrated more extensive DNA fragmentation and an inability to undergo self-repair. The heightened sensitivity to UVC radiation of diseased leukocytes from leukemia patients is used to provide an excorporeal treatment of diseased leukocytes followed by the re-introduction of the treated leukocytes to the patient.

US Patent:

6585676, Jul 1, 2003

Filed:

Jun 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/857982

Inventors:

Lyndon L. Larcom - Clemson SC
Amy Tuck - Piedmont SC
Samuel Smith - Greenville SC

Assignee:

Clemson University - Clemson SC

International Classification:

A61M 3700

US Classification:

604 401, 604 601, 604 608

Abstract:

Lymphocytes from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients have been found to be readily killed by ultra-violet light-C (UVC) radiation. Cells from healthy donors were minimally affected by doses of UVC 10 times higher than those which caused dramatic drops in the metabolism of CLL cells and eventual death. Irradiated cells from CLL patients and from healthy individuals all demonstrated a number of single strand DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites compared to unirradiated control cells. The extent of DNA damage to both healthy and CLL cells is dose dependent. However, the CLL cells demonstrated more extensive DNA fragmentation and an inability to undergo self-repair. The heightened sensitivity to UVC radiation of lymphocytes from CLL patients is used to provide an excorporeal treatment of CLL lymphocytes followed by the re-introduction of the treated lymphocytes to the patient.