Latest trial of University of Michigan’s ‘tumor destroyer’ exceeds goals

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Researchers at the University of Michigan say a new piece of technology that they refer to as a “tumor destroyer” more than met its goals in its most recent trial.

The latest results were recently published in the academic journal “Radiology.”

The tool, called Edison, performs a non-invasive procedure called histotripsy, which uses focused ultrasound to break down tumors. Researchers at U-M have been working on the tool for more than two decades. It received FDA approval late last year as alternative treatment for liver cancer.

The term histotripsy stems from the Greek terms of histo and tripsy. Histo means soft tissue and tripsy means to break down. The Edison uses focused ultrasound pulses to cause bubbles to grow in the tiny gas pockets within the target tissue, causing it to expand and eventually collapse under the stress, destroying the cells.

The latest trial included 44 people and 49 total tumors. The treatment was effective in 42 out of 44 patients, well above the performance goal of 70%. Only three of the 44 cases reported notable complications related to the procedure, below the 25% goal. However, two of the three cases are believed to be related to cancer and not the device.

Zhen Xu , one of the leading researchers on the project, called the trial results “highly promising.”

“I hope that the non-invasive nature, high precision and capability to spare critical vessels and bile ducts that will really improve the treatment for patients with primary and metastatic liver tumors, and many other tumor types in the future,” Xu said in a university blog post .

Researchers expect to take the next steps soon, including larger trials, more data on long-term outcomes and more clinical adoption.

In the past, Xu has called the Edison a tool that is only scraping the surface of its potential.

“I think it really will change the practice of medicine,” Xu said. “We want to leverage histotripsy’s immuno-stimulation effects and, hopefully, combine them with immunotherapy or drug delivery. That will move histotripsy from a local therapy into one that can treat tumors globally all over the body and eventually into a cure. In terms of the cancer treatment, that will be the next step, and I feel very excited about the potential.”

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