Treating cancer with sonodynamic therapy: a review

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Photochemistry

Background:

• Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is an emerging minimally invasive treatment for solid cancerous tumors.
• SDT utilizes a combination of a sensitizing drug, ultrasound, and molecular oxygen.
• The combination generates cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), while individual components are non-toxic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review the current literature on Sonodynamic Therapy (SDT).
• To discuss strategies for enhancing therapeutic outcomes in combination with SDT.
• To highlight the advantages of SDT over photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Main Methods:

• Literature review of existing studies on Sonodynamic Therapy.
• Analysis of strategies used to augment SDT efficacy.
• Comparison of SDT with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) based on physical properties and clinical applicability.

Main Results:

• SDT demonstrates significant potential for treating solid tumors.
• Ultrasound's superior tissue penetration compared to light enables treatment of deeper, less accessible tumors.
• Various combination strategies have been explored to improve SDT's therapeutic effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Sonodynamic therapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment.
• The enhanced tissue penetration of ultrasound makes SDT suitable for a broader range of tumors than PDT.
• Further research into combination strategies is crucial for optimizing SDT's clinical application.