Sharp Memorial Hospital became the first hospital in San Diego to offer histotripsy, a noninvasive cancer treatment for liver tumors that can greatly improve patients’ quality of life.
According to Dr. Hamed Aryafar, an interventional radiologist affiliated with Sharp Memorial Hospital, histotripsy is typically easier on the body than many traditional treatments.
It is an outpatient procedure that requires no surgery or radiation, and patients often return to normal activities quickly.
The power of ultrasound
Traditional cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.
However, histotripsy, approved by the FDA in 2023, uses ultrasound to deliver focused, high-intensity sound waves that destroy tumors without incisions or radiation.
During the procedure, the patient is placed under anesthesia. A water-filled pad is positioned against the skin to help transmit the ultrasound, and a robotic arm directs energy to the tumor with high precision.
The ultrasound creates tiny bubbles inside targeted cells. As the bubbles rapidly expand and collapse, they break apart tumor tissue while minimizing damage to nearby healthy structures.
Lower risks
Like other cancer treatments, histotripsy is not right for every patient, but it can offer similar tumor-destruction results with fewer tradeoffs for appropriate candidates.
It is currently best suited for liver tumors about 3 centimeters or smaller, including some tumors that have spread to other parts of the body. Larger tumors may be treatable but can require additional planning and procedure time.
Dr. Aryafar says recovery after histotripsy is often faster, and side effects tend to be less severe without sacrificing effectiveness. Because no skin or tissue is cut, there is no scarring and a lower risk of infection.
Additionally, unlike systemic drugs that travel through the bloodstream and affect multiple organs, the treatment is localized to the target area. The precise focus helps limit injury to adjacent tissue, a risk associated with radiation.
Just the beginning
Dr. Aryafar hopes histotripsy use will soon expand to include kidney and pancreatic tumors. Researchers are also studying whether leaving small fragments of destroyed tumor cells temporarily in place may help the immune system recognize and respond to similar cancer cells elsewhere.
Ultimately, Dr. Aryafar expects this to be a game-changer. “Histotripsy opens up a whole new line of cancer treatment,” he says. “The more we use it, the more we’re going to be able to explore its full potential.”
