Traditionally, ultrasound-based therapies in oncology have utilized high-intensity beams to destroy cancer cells or special contrast agents that are injected prior to ultrasound that work together to destroy targeted cells. The heat needed to kill the targeted cells becomes invasive to the nearby healthy tissue and the contrast agents used work for a limited number of tumors.
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and City of Hope Beckman Research Institute have designed a low-intensity ultrasound method that utilizes the physical and structural properties of tumor cells yielding a highly selective, safer alternative. By targeting the unique frequencies of the tumor cells at a lower intensity the group was successful in breaking apart several types of cancer cells without damaging nearby healthy tissue.
Their findings are published in Applied Physics Letters and mark a promising step in the field of oncotripsy.
"This project shows that ultrasound can be used to target cancer cells based on their mechanical properties," said David Mittelstein, researcher and lead author. "This is an exciting proof of concept for a new kind of cancer therapy that doesn't require the cancer to have unique molecular markers or to be located separately from healthy cells to be targeted."