Bubbling Tumors Into Oblivion

An ultrasound treatment called histotripsy is opening new ways of thinking about cancer intervention. Using millimeter-sized points of hyper-focused ultrasound waves delivered noninvasively to liquefy tumors, histotripsy allows the body to reabsorb acellular debris after treatment. Currently approved by the FDA only for use in liver tumors, histotripsy is expected to expand broadly. While other treatments, including surgeries, may require stopping chemotherapy, histotripsy can be done simultaneously with systemic therapies. Because it is noninvasive, patients who otherwise may not be candidates for surgery can have their tumors treated. Histotripsy marks a turning point in cancer care and, down the road, potentially an array of noncancer issues. Unlike other technologies to remove unwanted body tissue, ablation with histotripsy involves no heat or irradiation and doesn't damage healthy tissue surrounding a tumor. Intriguingly, researchers are also discovering that its aftereffects may stimulate the immune system, prompting regression of untreated tumors throughout the body. They are currently working on how to combine its ultrasonic pulses with immunotherapy to help the body sic its own T-cells on recalcitrant tumors.