Key Points
- The Foundation recently convened a group of experts to discuss future research using focused ultrasound for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
- Attendees presented the latest research, discussed burning questions, and developed a roadmap for future studies.
Five years after its first pancreatic cancer workshop, the Foundation organized and held a second workshop to discuss the use of focused ultrasound for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. On November 7–8, 2024, approximately 50 researchers, clinicians, and professionals from academia, industry, government, and the not-for-profit sector attended the in-person event in Charlottesville, VA.
The two-day program featured 17 presentations plus panel discussions in four general topic areas. The topics were the technical aspects of focused ultrasound for pancreatic cancer treatment, preclinical studies, immunotherapy challenges and opportunities, and the current clinical role of focused ultrasound and combination therapies.
“The workshop once again created an atmosphere of camaraderie across many disciplines of science and medicine including surgery, radiotherapy, oncology, interventional radiology, immunology, ultrasound physics, and more,” said Chrit Moonen, PhD, one of the Foundation’s managing directors and co-director of the Research and Education Team. “We were extremely happy with the diverse group of attendees from across the world who took the time to share their experiences and expertise using focused ultrasound to treat a disease that has thus far eluded significant progress in clinical outcomes.”
Attendees discussed and debated the following burning questions:
- What is the role of focused ultrasound in treating pancreatic cancer (e.g., pain palliation, drug delivery, immunomodulation, conversion of inoperable to operable lesions, increase in life expectancy, biomarker enhancement)?
- What focused ultrasound modality is most promising (e.g., thermal ablation, moderate hyperthermia, histotripsy, mechanical stimulation)?
- What devices are most suitable with respect to the treatment envelope, treatment time, and an optimal beam path?
- What endpoints in clinical trials should we aim for with respect to immuno-monitoring, biomarkers, clinical outcomes, and imaging?
- What therapeutics can be combined with the different focused ultrasound modalities (e.g., chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immuno-therapeutics, immuno-modulation)?
- What immunotherapy options exist for focused ultrasound in pancreatic cancer treatment to consistently convert a “cold” into a “hot” tumor or modify the tumor microenvironment, and what biomarkers are suitable?
“The final session included a great presentation by a representative from the United States Food and Drug Administration followed by the roadmap discussion,” said Tim Meakem, MD, one of the Foundation’s managing directors and co-director of the Research and Education Team. “We left the workshop with a great sense of what directions appear most promising in the use of focused ultrasound to treat this cancer, such as approaches that allow better penetration of chemotherapy drugs. We also discussed some stepwise inquiries into the immune system as we strive to unlock the immune response in a more consistent manner.”
Join the Conversation
Researchers, physicians, industry representations, or any other individuals who would like to participate in the Foundation’s efforts in the area of pancreatic cancer should contact Chrit Moonen, PhD, or Tim Meakem, MD.
2019 Pancreatic Cancer Workshop Resources