Intermediate histotripsy dose boosts tumor regression in liver cancer model
Since its development at the University of Michigan more than two decades ago, histotripsy has progressed from an experimental method for mechanically destroying tissue to a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–cleared treatment for liver tumors. The noninvasive technique uses short, high-pressure ultrasound pulses to generate microscopic bubble clouds that break apart targeted tissue without…
A recent study published in Scientific Reports has found that the optimal histotripsy dose for treating liver cancer tumors depends on the tumor's size, stiffness, and stage. Histotripsy is an FDA-cleared noninvasive procedure that uses short, high-pressure ultrasound pulses to generate microscopic bubble clouds and destroy targeted tissue. Researchers led by Tejaswi Worlikar, Ph.D., tested various histotripsy doses on rats with both smaller intermediate-stage tumors and larger late-stage tumors.
For smaller tumors, an intermediate dose produced the highest rate of complete regression with a lower risk of overtreatment. Larger tumors responded best to the intermediate dose as well, likely due to their softer tissues requiring lower doses for ablation. The intermediate dose also generated the strongest immune response, with T cells and natural killer cells infiltrating untreated portions of partially treated tumors.
In one experiment, both tumors in separate liver lobes were treated with the intermediate dose, resulting in complete regression in 90% of the animals.
The study suggests that the most effective histotripsy dose may vary based on each tumor's mechanical properties and stage. However, the doses used in this study cannot be directly applied to patients. Nonetheless, the research supports the need for personalized histotripsy treatment planning. Future work will focus on developing feedback methods to determine when a tumor has received enough treatment, potentially shifting towards tailored treatments for each individual tumor's unique characteristics.
Written by urgent.news from Medical Xpress's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
