New Approach Utilizes Focused Ultrasound to Enhance Chemotherapy Precision

In the battle against cancer, chemotherapy has long been a widely used but somewhat imprecise treatment method. While it effectively targets tumors, it also causes harm to healthy tissue and the body as a whole. Researchers are now exploring a novel approach that combines chemotherapy with soundwaves to create a more targeted and precise treatment.

According to a study published in The Lancet Oncology, the demand for chemotherapy is expected to increase by 53% between 2018 and 2040. Although there are numerous emerging cancer treatment options available, traditional chemotherapy remains a primary method. However, it comes with side effects such as hair loss, nausea, weight loss, anemia, and peripheral neuropathy. Moreover, because chemotherapy drugs affect the entire body, they can cause damage to non-tumor cells.

To address these limitations, scientists have previously combined cancer-fighting drugs with laser light to activate them specifically at tumor sites. However, this method has a limited efficacy range, only reaching a few millimeters below the skin, which is the maximum depth at which a laser beam can penetrate.

Researchers at the City University of Hong Kong have now developed a new approach that utilizes soundwaves to increase the depth at which chemotherapeutic drugs can function. In their laboratory, they created a small-molecule platinum-based prodrug called cyaninplatin, which accumulates at tumor sites. By applying highly-targeted ultrasound waves to the cyaninplatin, it is converted into carboplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug. This conversion process damages the mitochondria within cancer cells, resulting in tumor death.

In their experiments with cancer cell cultures, the researchers achieved a 51% reduction in cancer cell viability when tissue coverage was 1 cm thick, and a 33% reduction with tissue coverage at a thickness of 2 cm. Subsequent testing in mice demonstrated that the method completely eliminated two tumors after six days of treatment and significantly inhibited the growth of additional tumors.

Zhu Guangyu, co-author of the study and researcher at CityU’s Department of Chemistry, emphasized the effectiveness of their ultrasound system, stating, “Our well-designed functional ultrasound enables the sono-sensitized chemotherapy to be a precise tumor-specific treatment with good penetration performance.” He further explained that their system allows for focused ultrasound energy on a specific area within 8 mm, minimizing side effects and activating the sono-responsive prodrugs efficiently.

The researchers also discovered that their method using cyaninplatin as a fluorescing agent could serve as an imaging system. It allows for the 3D mapping of tumors, precise guidance of drug particles, and real-time monitoring of the drug’s accumulation within tumors.

This new approach holds tremendous potential in enhancing the precision and effectiveness of chemotherapy. By utilizing focused ultrasound waves to activate drugs specifically at tumor sites, researchers are able to mitigate the damage to healthy tissue and minimize side effects. Furthermore, the use of cyaninplatin as a fluorescing agent offers additional benefits by providing imaging capabilities and real-time monitoring of drug accumulation. As further advancements are made, this technique shows promise in revolutionizing cancer treatment and improving patient outcomes.

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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it