Patent ID: 9427429
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: A61K

Claim Text:
1. A method for increasing the sensitivity of imaging a cancerous or pre-cancerous disease in a mammal which comprises the steps of: (a) administering to the mammal an effective amount of a T-type calcium channel inhibitor that inhibits proliferation of cancerous or pre-cancerous diseased cells by inhibiting cell cycle progression through the checkpoint between the G1 and S phase wherein the diseased cells accumulate at the G1/S checkpoint of the cell cycle; (b) subsequently administering an imaging marker to the mammal after a period wherein cells that have accumulated at the G1/S checkpoint of the cell cycle following administration of the T-type calcium channel inhibitor have progressed to the S phase of the cell cycle, resulting in an increased proportion of the diseased cells in the S phase of the cell cycle; and (c) imaging the mammal with an imager and obtaining an image of diseased cells with greater sensitivity compared with imaging in the absence of administration of the T-type calcium channel inhibitor.