In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Focused Ultrasound Foundation presented a webinar addressing the potential impact of focused ultrasound throughout the treatment of breast cancer patients. Focused ultrasound is being used internationally to treat early-stage breast cancer and is now in clinical trials to treat advanced disease. These clinical trials explore the potential benefits of various focused ultrasound mechanisms of action, such as thermal ablation, radiation sensitization, enhanced drug delivery, and immunomodulation.
Applications of focused ultrasound may increase local drug delivery to the tumor and improve patient care by decreasing the dose of systemic chemotherapies. Focused ultrasound can also act as a radiosensitizer, allowing for decreased doses of radiation. During survivorship, focused ultrasound neuromodulation could potentially help treat neuropathies as well as cognitive issues that resulted from prior therapies.
Moderator
Suzanne LeBlang, MD
Director of Clinical Relationships
Focused Ultrasound Foundation
Speakers
David Brenin, MD
M.C. Wilhelm Professor in Diseases of the Breast
Chief, Division of Breast and Melanoma Surgical Services
University of Virginia School of Medicine
Natasha Sheybani, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering
Research Director, UVA Focused Ultrasound Cancer Immunotherapy Center
University of Virginia