Cancers: Breakthrough!

Liver cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors.

According to the 2020 global cancer burden data of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), there will be 19.

China also ranks first in the world in terms of liver cancer deaths

Recently, researchers from the University of Michigan published a research paper entitled "Impact of Histotripsy on Development of Intrahepatic Metastases in a Rodent Liver Tumor Model" in the journal "Cancers"

Researchers have developed a non-invasive sonic wave anti-cancer technology that breaks down liver tumors in mice, kills cancer cells and stimulates the immune system to prevent the tumors from spreading further, an advance that could improve cancer outcomes in humans

Specifically, destroying only 50-70% of the tumor volume was able to significantly treat the tumor, the immune system of the mice was able to clear the rest, and more than 80% of the animals did not relapse or metastasize

In the study, the researchers used a treatment called histotripsy to non-invasively focus ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy targeted tissue with millimeter precision

In many clinical situations, the entire cancerous tumor cannot be directly targeted for treatment due to factors such as the size, location, or stage of the mass

Ultrasound array transducers used in the laboratory

The researchers implanted liver cancer in 22 mice, randomly divided the animals into treatment and control groups, and 11 mice underwent partial tissue resection ablation, targeting 50%-75% of the tumor volume

After treatment, the researchers analyzed the success of the treatment and looked for signs of progression, metastasis and immune markers

The study found that nine mice (82%) in the treatment group exhibited tumor regression, with no complications or side effects noted during the treatment, and experienced about 10 weeks of tumor-free survival for the remainder of the study

Tumor treated with tissue resection (b) showing complete regression

The control group mice had a poor prognosis, with all showing signs of tumor progression and metastasis

Even not targeting the entire tumor can still cause tumor regression and reduce the risk of future metastases, the researchers said

The results also showed that the treatment stimulated an immune response in the mice and also improved survival after the treatment, possibly helping to eventually regress the non-targeted portion of the tumor and prevent the cancer from spreading further

In conclusion, this tissue resection may not increase the risk of metastases after ablation compared with controls

Currently, this relatively new technology is being used in human liver cancer trials in the United States and Europe

Original source:

Tejaswi Worlikar, et al.
Impact of Histotripsy on Development of Intrahepatic Metastases in a Rodent Liver Tumor Model.
Cancers 2022, 14(7), 1612; https://doi.
org/10.
3390/cancers14071612.