Translate
Ronny Allan
A new technique that destroys cancer using soundwaves. It also spurs the immune system to kill off any of the tumour left, scientists have revealed. The non-invasive treatment only needs to be partially effective to stop the cancer spreading.
It is currently being tested on human liver cancers in the US and Europe following successful trials in rats. The team from the University of Michigan showed the non-invasive sound technology is able to prevent further spread with no evidence of recurrence or metastases in the majority of cases. The treatment, called histotripsy, noninvasively focuses ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy target tissue with millimetre precision. In many cases, the entirety of a cancerous tumour cannot be targeted directly in treatments due to the mass’ size, location or stage.
However, researchers investigated the effects of partially destroying tumours with sound to 50 or 75 per cent and found the technique was still very effective. They showed that in 80 per cent of cases performed on rats, the immune system broke down the rest of the tumour and it did not return.
Professor Zhen Xu, at the University of Michigan, said: “Even if we don’t target the entire tumour, we can still cause the tumour to regress and also reduce the risk of future metastasis. Our transducer delivers high amplitude microsecond-length ultrasound pulses—acoustic cavitation—to focus on the tumour specifically to break it up.
So, I guess you will now be thinking ….Does this work on Neuroendocrine Cancer liver metastases? The answer is that no one really knows as the human trials have only just begun. Edit: The clip from BBC below confirms a NET patient is on the trial.
Histotripsy is a type of ablation but uses a totally different technique which is non-invasive. It uses focused ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy target tissue with millimetre precision. In many cases, the entirety of a cancerous tumour cannot be targeted directly in treatments due to its size, location or stage.
Ablative techniques are currently used on Neuroendocrine Cancers so will this form of ablation work? Again, we simply don’t know for sure without clinical trials. This is hugely different tech. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) use heat to destroy cancer cells or tumours (more than just the liver). The heat is supplied by electrical currents passed through a special needle placed directly into the liver. This may also be known as percutaneous ablation. Cryoablation for cancer is a treatment to kill cancer cells with extreme cold. During cryoablation, a thin, wand-like needle (cryoprobe) is inserted through your skin and directly into the cancerous tumour. All of these types are already used on Neuroendocrine Cancer but are invasive in nature. The success ratios and risks are known and documented.
Is this the same as High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU)?
Not really but both may be in a grouping of similar treatments called “Focused Ultrasounds”. Histotripsy has some similarities with High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) but whereas HIFU employs thermal energy to ablate tissues, histotripsy harnesses the energy of thousands of microbubbles — called cavitation — to emulsify tissue.
HIFU is not known as a regular treatment for Neuroendocrine Cancer but is frequently used in (e.g.) Prostate and Uterine Fibroids. I can also see its deployment in cosmetic surgery. HIFU is limited by long treatment times and the requirement for MRI thermometry or quantitative B-mode imaging for real-time feedback of treatment. Furthermore, thermal ablation of highly perfused tissue can be imprecise, inconsistent, or ineffective.
As far as I am aware, neither HIFU nor Histotripsy has been trialed in Neuroendocrine Cancer patients, nor have they been approved for use in the treatment of Neuroendocrine Cancers. Edit: The clip from BBC below confirms a NET patient is on the trial.
Human Clinical Trials of Histotripsy
There are trials in Europe and US.
US Trial – (8 sites in 6 states) – The HistoSonics System for Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors Using Histotripsy – Full Text View – ClinicalTrials.gov
Europe Trial – (6 sites in 4 countries) The HistoSonics System for Treatment of Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors Using Histotripsy (#HOPE4LIVER) – Full Text View – ClinicalTrials.gov
Two of the sites are in UK. So far, two patients have been treated with histotripsy in Leeds and two at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. Cancer types of patients not known.
Summary
The only thing I am sure about is that I will be keeping an eye on the development of Histotripsy and bringing you news directly via all my sites and accounts. Stay tuned.
As I keep telling you, we should always hope for breakthroughs, but it’s very early days for Neuroendocrine Cancer.
For the hope angle, read the story of 68-year-old Sheila Riley from UK – click here
Featured on BBC TV Show “Click”
Featured on BBC TV Show “Click” on 12 Nov but now available on YouTube by clicking here or on the picture below. This may not be available in your country.
Sources used in compiling this article
- Tumors partially destroyed with sound don’t come back | University of Michigan News (umich.edu) (2022)
- New Ultrasonic Therapy Obliterates Tissue Without Physical Contact | University of Michigan (uofmhealth.org) (2016 article)
- For Whom the Bubble Grows: Physical Principles of Bubble Nucleation and Dynamics in Histotripsy Ultrasound Therapy – ScienceDirect (2019)
- Radical new therapy uses tiny bubbles of gas to destroy tumours | Daily Mail Online
Summary
The only thing I am sure about is that I will be keeping an eye on the development of Histotripsy and bringing you news directly via all my sites and accounts. Stay tuned.
As I keep telling you, we should always hope for breakthroughs, but it’s very early days for Neuroendocrine Cancer.
For the hope angle, read the story of 68-year-old Sheila Riley from UK – click here
Finally
Whenever I post about a trial or study, some people get excited without understanding that these new treatments and capabilities can very often take years to come to fruition and it’s also possible that clinical trials can be halted, or that national approval agencies will not approve the final product. Plus, not everyone will be eligible, so always check the exclusion and inclusion criteria in the relevant clinical trials document. Please bear that in mind when reading studies/clinical trials posted on RonnyAllan.NET
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or any form of medical professional, practitioner or counsellor. None of the information on my website, or linked to my website(s), or conveyed by me on any social media or presentation, should be interpreted as medical advice given or advised by me.
Neither should any post or comment made by a follower or member of my private group be assumed to be medical advice, even if that person is a healthcare professional.
Please also note that mention of a clinical service, trial/study or therapy does not constitute an endorsement of that service, trial/study or therapy by Ronny Allan, the information is provided for education and awareness purposes and/or related to Ronny Allan’s own patient experience. This element of the disclaimer includes any complementary medicine, non-prescription over the counter drugs and supplements such as vitamins and minerals.
General Clinical Trials Disclaimer
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided in the clinical trials document. It’s very important to check the trial inclusion and exclusion criteria before making any contact. If you need questions, the articles here is very useful Questions to Ask About Clinical Trials | Cancer.Net
The inclusion of any trial within this blog should not be taken as a recommendation by Ronny Allan.
Sometimes, you gotta climb that hill, even if it hurts
I started my “sometimes you gotta climb that hill” series/campaign some years so. I used it as a metaphor based on my own experience of
A spotlight on duodenal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (dNENs)
What are Duodenal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (dNEN)? The duodenum is technically part of the small intestine, and you can find that in most anatomy-based descriptions. One
Neuroendocrine Cancer: Awareness is key, but it must be the right message
Let me start by saying that Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness is in a better place than it was when I was diagnosed in 2010. But it
Summary of May 2023 on RonnyAllan.NET
Summary May produced the best statistics in 2023, mainly due to your support for my blog post on Maria Menounos whose announcement headlined as “Pancreatic
Getting back in the saddle
Those who follow my Facebook page Ronny Allan may remember my cycling faux pas in April causing me to bruise or fracture a rib (here
Clinical Trial: Phase 1/2a Study of 23ME-00610 in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies (incl Neuroendocrine Neoplasms)
Who are 23andMe? I personally had not heard of 23andMe but many people in North America might have. When you first look at what they
A spotlight on Chromogranin A
What is Chromogranin A? Chromogranin A (CgA) is an acidic protein released along with catecholamines from chromaffin cells and nerve terminals. This statement alone might
Neuroendocrine Cancer: Catch them early, not late!
Diagnosing Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs). It’s no secret that Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) can be difficult to diagnose, particularly well differentiated slow growing types (NETs) which can
A spotlight on Rectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
What are Rectal NENs Rectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) (rNENs) account for approximately 1-2% of all primary cancers in the rectum. The other main cancer types
Top 10 Posts & Pages in the last 48 hours (auto updates) (Click the titles to read them)
Thanks for reading.
I’m also active on Facebook. Like this page.
I’m also active on this Facebook page. Follow this page.
Also like this awareness page on Facebook.
Sign up for my newsletters – Click Here
My Diagnosis and Treatment History
Check out my online presentations
Check out my WEGO Health Awards
Like my new awareness page – click here or on the photo. (Like rather than follow please!)
Check out my Glossary of Terms – click here
Please Share this post for Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness and to help another patient
Sometimes, you gotta climb that hill, even if it hurts
I started my “sometimes you gotta climb that hill” series/campaign some years so. I used it as a metaphor based on my own experience of
A spotlight on duodenal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (dNENs)
What are Duodenal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (dNEN)? The duodenum is technically part of the small intestine, and you can find that in most anatomy-based descriptions. One
Neuroendocrine Cancer: Awareness is key, but it must be the right message
Let me start by saying that Neuroendocrine Cancer awareness is in a better place than it was when I was diagnosed in 2010. But it
Summary of May 2023 on RonnyAllan.NET
Summary May produced the best statistics in 2023, mainly due to your support for my blog post on Maria Menounos whose announcement headlined as “Pancreatic
Getting back in the saddle
Those who follow my Facebook page Ronny Allan may remember my cycling faux pas in April causing me to bruise or fracture a rib (here
Clinical Trial: Phase 1/2a Study of 23ME-00610 in Patients With Advanced Solid Malignancies (incl Neuroendocrine Neoplasms)
Who are 23andMe? I personally had not heard of 23andMe but many people in North America might have. When you first look at what they
A spotlight on Chromogranin A
What is Chromogranin A? Chromogranin A (CgA) is an acidic protein released along with catecholamines from chromaffin cells and nerve terminals. This statement alone might
Neuroendocrine Cancer: Catch them early, not late!
Diagnosing Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs). It’s no secret that Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) can be difficult to diagnose, particularly well differentiated slow growing types (NETs) which can
A spotlight on Rectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
What are Rectal NENs Rectal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NENs) (rNENs) account for approximately 1-2% of all primary cancers in the rectum. The other main cancer types
Hi Ronnie
This treatment has been around for years, there are many treatments out there that big pharma don.t want you to know about people were at the time shut up about it if you get my meaning, Mmmm strange how it is coming to light all of a sudden, Oh and I have Neuroendocrines Tumours in my Lymph nodes after having most of my Pancreas and tumour taken away 2011.
Key difference now is human trials, so it’s worth a post.