Hydrodynamic cavitation kills prostate cells and ablates benign prostatic hyperplasia tissue

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Urology

Background:

• Hydrodynamic cavitation involves bubble formation and collapse in liquids, releasing significant energy.
• Previous studies demonstrated hydrodynamic cavitation's efficacy in destroying leukemia cells and kidney stones.
• The potential of hydrodynamic cavitation for treating prostate conditions and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of hydrodynamic cavitation on prostate cells and BPH tissue.
• To determine the mechanism of cell death induced by hydrodynamic cavitation.
• To evaluate the potential of hydrodynamic cavitation as a therapeutic approach for BPH ablation.

Main Methods:

• Prostate cells and BPH tissues were exposed to hydrodynamic cavitation.
• Cell viability, DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy were analyzed.
• Tissue destruction levels were quantified after cavitation treatment.

Main Results:

• Hydrodynamic cavitation effectively killed prostate cells in a pressure- and time-dependent manner.
• Cavitation-induced cell death occurred through direct physical damage (pulverization), not apoptosis or autophagy.
• Significant destruction of BPH tissues was observed following hydrodynamic cavitation application.

Conclusions:

• Hydrodynamic cavitation directly damages and pulverizes prostate cells.
• This physical method effectively ablates BPH tissue, offering a novel therapeutic strategy.
• Hydrodynamic cavitation holds promise for developing new treatments for pathological tissue ablation, including BPH.