Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2025

08:04
Cytotoxic Efficacy of Photodynamic Therapy in Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro
Published on: March 18, 2014
12.9K
Characterizing the Ablative Effects of Histotripsy for Osteosarcoma: In Vivo Study in Dogs.
Lauren N Ruger1, Alayna N Hay2,3, Elliana R Vickers1,3,4
1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24016, USA.
Cancers
|February 11, 2023
Summary
Histotripsy, a non-invasive ultrasound therapy, effectively treats canine osteosarcoma (OS) by mechanically destroying bone tumors. This study confirms its safety and feasibility, showing enhanced tissue destruction and radiographic changes in spontaneous OS tumors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Osteosarcoma (OS) is a primary bone cancer typically treated with surgery and chemotherapy.
- Histotripsy, a non-invasive focused ultrasound technique, uses acoustic cavitation for mechanical tissue ablation.
- Previous studies showed histotripsy's potential for OS ablation but required further characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of histotripsy for treating spontaneous osteosarcoma in canine patients.
- To characterize the histopathologic and radiologic effects of histotripsy ablation in bone tumors.
- To expand on prior research by investigating histotripsy's impact on tumors with varying compositions.
Main Methods:
- A prototype 500 kHz histotripsy system was employed to treat ten dogs with suspected OS.
- Tumors were treated at a dose of 1000 pulses per location.
- Treated tumors were surgically resected one day post-therapy for radiologic and histopathologic analysis.
Main Results:
- Histotripsy ablation was demonstrated to be safe and feasible in canine patients with spontaneous OS.
- The study observed more extensive tissue destruction compared to previous reports.
- Radiographic changes in tumor size and contrast uptake following histotripsy were documented for the first time.
Conclusions:
- Histotripsy is a safe and feasible therapeutic option for canine osteosarcoma.
- This study provides novel insights into the ablation zone characteristics and radiographic outcomes of histotripsy for bone tumors.
- Findings support further investigation of histotripsy for osteosarcoma treatment.

