Madrid. The development of new non-invasive treatments based on ultrasound technology to inhibit the growth of solid tumors is now possible thanks to research conducted by the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology that demonstrated the efficacy of ultrasound therapy in the inhibition of diseased cells in cases of pancreatic cancer.
Cancer cell migration and proliferation activities accompany the establishment of solid tumors, and conventional treatments, such as ionizing radiation, kill both cancerous and healthy cells.
The idea of creating a novel therapy based solely on ultrasonic, non-ionizing technology is raised by our research for the first time. If successful, this therapy would be non-invasive, inexpensive, and simple to use without causing harm to patients.
Iciar González, a CSIC researcher at the Itefi (Instituto Torres Quevedo de Tecnologas de la Información and el Fierro), said.
Result of a 20-minute dosage
The scientists specifically worked on pancreatic cancer sample in vitro. On PANC-1 cell samples, we used a dose of low-intensity ultrasound for just 20 minutes, and we were able to halt the growth of the cells collectively and individually in monolayers for at least two days. the expert maintained.
The capacity of cells to migrate is inhibited by the administration of ultrasonic waves for 15 or 20 minutes under specific acoustic circumstances for lengthy periods of time—more than 48 hours or even up to 3 days after treatment. Additionally, researchers have noted some inhibition in the processes of cell multiplication, which we are currently examining in additional lab trials.
Live experiments on mice will be the next step to show the effectiveness and acceptability of this therapy. The goal is to evaluate the positive outcomes obtained in vitro in these animals with various tumor types. Using a small ultrasonic device that can be adjusted for each animal, the tests will be conducted in conjunction with scientists from the Ramón y Cajal Institute for Health Research, Harvard, and the Basque Country Universities.