Transcostal High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for the Treatment of Cancer
Lead Research Organisation:
Institute of Cancer Research
Department Name: Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging
Abstract
The efficacy of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for the non-invasive treatment of cancer has been clearly demonstrated for a range of different cancers including those of the liver, prostate and breast. As a non-invasive focal therapy, HIFU offers considerable advantages over other techniques such as chemotherapy and surgery, in terms of invasiveness and risk of harmful side-effects. Despite its advantages, however, there are a number of significant challenges currently hindering its widespread clinical application, specifically: the need to transmit energy through the rib cage and the associated risk of skin burns and damage to the rib surface, the effects of organ motion on treatment accuracy, a poor understanding of cavitation processes in vivo and, finally, the lack of effective techniques for real-time image guidance and treatment monitoring. The overall objective of the research programme described in this document is to develop practical solutions for these issues. Successful completion of this proposal will result in a prototype clinical device for the safe and effective HIFU treatment of tumours of the liver, kidney and pancreas that has undergone preclinical testing and conforms to the necessary safety standards for patient use.
Publications
Padilla F
(2022)
Recommendations for Reporting Therapeutic Ultrasound Treatment Parameters.
in Ultrasound in medicine & biology
Jameel A
(2022)
The cost-effectiveness of unilateral magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound in comparison with unilateral deep brain stimulation for the treatment of medically refractory essential tremor in England
in The British Journal of Radiology
Gélat P
(2012)
The optimization of acoustic fields for ablative therapies of tumours in the upper abdomen.
in Physics in medicine and biology
Brown MR
(2015)
The use of high-intensity focused ultrasound as a novel treatment for painful conditions-a description and narrative review of the literature.
in British journal of anaesthesia
Snehota M
(2020)
Therapeutic ultrasound experiments in vitro: Review of factors influencing outcomes and reproducibility.
in Ultrasonics
DeSouza NM
(2022)
Tissue specific considerations in implementing high intensity focussed ultrasound under magnetic resonance imaging guidance.
in Frontiers in oncology
Shaw A
(2015)
Towards a dosimetric framework for therapeutic ultrasound.
in International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group
Haar G
(2016)
Turning up the Power: High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the Treatment of Cancer
in Ultrasound
Awad NS
(2021)
Ultrasound-Responsive Nanocarriers in Cancer Treatment: A Review.
in ACS pharmacology & translational science
Ter Haar G
(2015)
Ultrasound: the versatile energy source.
in International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group
Description | In this project, which follows on from GR/s64042, we have designed a 256 element therapeutic ultrasound transducer optimised for the delivery of ablative energy to liver tumours through the rib cage - which has previously been a major obstacle. In order to drive such a device we have collaborated with a commercial company to produce a 256 channel drive system which also has the capability to receive information on 128 of the channels during the delivery of treatment in order to both plan and monitor |
Exploitation Route | An objective of this project is to produce medical demonstrator equipment for future clinical work. This project is ongoing, but the intention is to find a commercial partner for this device, or create a start-up. As yet, the best way of doing this is not clear. |
Sectors | Education,Healthcare |
Description | Publications have been cited by others |
Sector | Healthcare |
Description | AAPM Group on characterisation of MRgHIFU |
Geographic Reach | North America |
Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
Impact | Better characterisation of MR guided HIFU treatments will lead to more effective and safer treatments |
Description | Action Research Program |
Amount | £102,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Action Medical Research |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 07/2016 |
Description | FUSF Centre of Excellence funding |
Amount | $450,000 (USD) |
Organisation | Focused Ultrasound Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | Focused Ultrasound Foundation's Centres of Excellence |
Amount | $450,000 (USD) |
Organisation | Focused Ultrasound Foundation |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United States |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 12/2016 |
Description | Portuguese national fund |
Amount | € 90,000 (EUR) |
Organisation | Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (Portugal) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | Portugal |
Start | 08/2013 |
End | 10/2017 |
Title | Optical CT |
Description | ?? |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | ?? |
Description | THIFU |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | School of Life and Medical Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaborated on EPSRC funded grant |
Collaborator Contribution | UCL were responsible for aspects of treatment planning |
Impact | See grant outputs |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | THIFU collaboration |
Organisation | King's College London |
Department | Department of Biomedical Engineering |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | EPSRC funded collaborative 5 year program grant employing 3 staff at ICR plus Co-I |
Collaborator Contribution | UCL were the PIs on the grant |
Impact | Publications, conference presentations, further collaborations. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | THIFU collaboration |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | Mechanical Engineering |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | EPSRC funded collaborative 5 year program grant employing 3 staff at ICR plus Co-I |
Collaborator Contribution | UCL were the PIs on the grant |
Impact | Publications, conference presentations, further collaborations. |
Start Year | 2009 |
Title | Sonalleve Clinical Trial |
Description | MRgHIFU use for treatment of pain due to bone metastases currently in Phase I clinical trials, funded by the FUS foundation / Philips |
Type | Therapeutic Intervention - Medical Devices |
Current Stage Of Development | Early clinical assessment |
Year Development Stage Completed | 2016 |
Development Status | Actively seeking support |
Clinical Trial? | Yes |
Impact | Publications |
URL | https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT01964677 |
Description | School Visit (Marcia) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Discussion with Portuguese speaking school children, enthusing them about a future in STEM. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015,2016 |