Enhancement of tumor response to chemotherapy by activation of the asmase/ceramide pathway through timed administration of a short-acting anti-angiogenic agent

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for enhancing tumor response to chemotherapy, the method comprising administering a short-acting anti-angiogenic agent (AAA) capable of activating ASMase to a subject afflicted with a solid tumor, and thereby creating a time interval of increased susceptibility of said tumor to one or more chemotherapeutic agents, followed by administration of at least one chemotherapeutic agent within the interval. The interval can be defined in terms of a short-duration activation of ASMase signaling by the AAA. Disclosed are also methods for predicting the tumor response in a patient afflicted with a solid tumor to a chemotherapeutic agent, using as an indicator of the response ASMase level or activity (or ceramide level) in the patient following the administration of the chemotherapeutic agent to the patient, or dynamic IVIM based DW-MRI to measure perfusion alterations following administration of the chemotherapeutic agent.