Oncological
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- Last Updated: June 19, 2017
Focused ultrasound offers the potential to treat many cancers through non-invasively destroying malignant tissue or enhancing adjuvant therapy (e.g. chemotherapy or radiation).
The technology is approved in Europe and the U.S. to relieve the pain in patients with bone metastases. In addition, focused ultrasound systems to treat prostate cancer are approved in Europe and are currently under FDA review and may be commercially available in the U.S. soon.
Focused ultrasound is also approved in Europe to treat patients with breast, liver, pancreatic and kidney cancers and soft tissue tumors.
U.S. studies using focused ultrasound to non-invasively destroy tumors in the breast, thyroid, and prostate are expected to begin soon.
In pediatric oncology, definitive studies in children are likely to be delayed until more studies in adults have been completed and analysed. However, a new clinical trial at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, DC is focused on patients (less than 30 years of age) with recurrent solid tumors for which there are no curative treatments.
In addition, there is significant research activity around the globe assessing the potential of the technology to enhance the delivery and effectiveness of cancer drugs.
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