Novel Development Allows for the Removal of Tumors Without Surgery

By Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM — A new technology makes it possible to destroy cancerous tumors in a targeted manner, via a combination of ultrasound and the injection of nanobubbles into the bloodstream, researchers at Tel Aviv University announced on Wednesday.

Unlike invasive treatment methods or the injection of microbubbles into the tumor itself, this latest technology enables the destruction of the tumor in a non-invasive manner.

TAU’s Dr. Tali Ilovitsh said it “makes possible, in a relatively simple way, to inject nanobubbles into the bloodstream, which then congregate in the area of ​​the cancerous tumor. After that, using a low-frequency ultrasound, we explode the nanobubbles, and thereby the tumor.”

The research team is still at an early stage, applying for patents, but it promises an alternative to the prevalent method of surgical removal of the tumor, in combination with chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

This method has both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it allows for localized and focused treatment; the use of high-intensity ultrasound can produce thermal or mechanical effects by delivering powerful acoustic energy to a focal point with high spatial-temporal precision. This method has been used to effectively treat solid tumors deep within in the body. Moreover, it makes it possible to treat patients who are unfit for tumor resection surgery.

The disadvantage, however, is that the heat and high intensity of the ultrasound waves may damage the tissues near the tumor.

Addressing that problem, Dr. Ilovitsh explained that “the combination of nanobubbles and low frequency ultrasound waves provides a more specific targeting of the area of the tumor, and reduces off-target toxicity. Applying the low frequency to the nanobubbles causes their extreme swelling and explosion, even at low pressures. This makes it possible to perform the mechanical destruction of the tumors at low-pressure thresholds.”

She added that the use of low-frequency ultrasound also increases the depth of penetration, minimizes distortion and attenuation, and enlarges the focal point.