The sound waves could be an alternative treatment cancer of the liver, destroying tumors within minutes and thus avoiding the side effects of chemotherapy.

This is histotripsy, a medical technology developed by HistoSonics and it was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is already conducting human trials to verify its effectiveness.

The treatment works with a ultrasound machine that uses specific sound waves to form microbubbles in the tumor. The pressure generated by the machine causes the bubbles to expand until they expand destroy the tumor.

When the cancerous mass ruptures, tumor cells are destroyed and the immune system is responsible for removing waste.

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The treatment only takes a few minutes. It is performed under general anesthesia of the patient while the radiologist locates the tumor with a live ultrasound of the liver. The machine, which has a robotic arm, is fixed above the tumor.

A transducer is attached to the end of the robot arm, a device that converts electrical energy into ultrasonic energy. After the machine calculates the energy needed to break up the tumor, the transducer emits that energy with ultrasound waves.

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The duration of the procedure depends on the number and size of the tumors, but may take as little as seven minutes as the risks increase after that time.

According to the scientists behind the treatment, there is a risk of heat damage nearby blood vessels or, in the case of liver cancer, bile ducts.

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Clinical trials on humans

He University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center conducts clinical trials of histotripsy in humans, based on the first animal experiments.

An initial study showed this histotripsy destroyed 50% to 75% of the liver tumor volume in rats, while his immune system destroyed the remains of the cancerous mass. The tumor did not return in more than 80% of the animals.

In addition, it was discovered that sound waves also break the ‘coat’ of the cancer cell wall, revealing tumor antigens that the immune system can use in targeted attacks on other cancer cells to prevent tumor recurrences.

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Zhen Xuprofessor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan, inventor of the histotripsy method and co-founder of HistoSonics, said: “We want to take advantage of the immune-stimulating effects of histotripsy and hopefully combine it with immunotherapy or drug delivery.”

“That will ensure that histotripsy changes from a local therapy to a therapy that can do that treat tumors worldwide throughout the body and ultimately become a medicine. “In terms of cancer treatment, that will be the next step and I’m very excited about the potential,” he added.

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The treatment currently costs $12,500 and is considered experimental, so it is not indicated for all liver cancer patients. (JO)