Latest Advances in Focused Ultrasound Shared at the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound's Symposium
Kim Butts Pauly, PhD, ISTU Committee Chair
Presentations at The International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound (ISTU) symposium revealed an impressive and growing body of data to support the potential of focused ultrasound to transform the treatment of a range of cancers, neurological disorders, and gynecological conditions.
"Focused ultrasound is increasingly being considered a game-changing technology"said Kim Butts Pauly, PhD, Professor of Radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine. "We are excited to have hosted researchers from many disciplines around the world - to share the significant pre-clinical and clinical progress being made.”
Promising New Data
A patient with osteoid osteoma before and after focused ultrasound treatment
The range and depth of scientific presentations at the 2014 ISTU meeting demonstrate the broad applicability of this platform technology to produce multiple biological mechanisms. Focused ultrasound can have therapeutic effect both directly by ablating unhealthy tissue or dissolving blood clots and indirectly, such as by opening up the blood-brain barrier to allow the delivery of therapeutic agents.
There were several presentations on promising new focused ultrasound approaches, including:
Mirabilis Medica, Inc.'s pilot study demonstrating the potential to treat fibroids in a dramatically short time using a shell ablation technique
Promising treatment of soft tissue tumors at Stanford
Successful treatment of 15 osteoid osteoma patients in Rome
Coverage of ISTU highlights includes articles from:
Focused Ultrasound Symposium: Abstract Submissions and Young Investigator Award Applications Now Open
The Symposium is the world's leading forum of clinical and scientific experts advancing the field of image-guided focused ultrasound. Taking place in Bethesda, Maryland, October 12-16, the conference will offer a multifaceted exploration of current and future applications of the technology and feature plenary sessions, panel discussions, poster presentations, and exhibits. Learn more.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Investigators can now submit abstracts for the 2014 Symposium. The Foundation welcomes abstracts related to preclinical, translational, or clinical research that involves the use of image-guided focused ultrasound. Topics of interest include treatments for the brain, bone, breast, liver, prostate, uterine fibroids, and other emerging applications.
Submissions must be entered online and will be accepted only through July 14, 2014. This date will not be extended as in past years.
Are you a student or researcher hoping to present your work at the Symposium? Do you have a colleague who would benefit from this experience? The Foundation's Young Investigator Awards include complementary registration and up to $1,500 in reimbursement for travel.
Dr. Lian Zhang oversees the clinical program in China that treats 3,000 focused ultrasound patients per year
"Focused ultrasound should be the future treatment of many tumors."- Lian Zhang, MD
Chinese Expert in Focused Ultrasound Visits Foundation, UVA
Lian Zhang, MD, gastroenterologist with the Clinical Center for Tumor Therapy, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, met with Alan Matsumoto, MD, Co-Director of the UVA Focused Ultrasound Center. Dr. Zhang is a leading clinician in the field, having been involved with focused ultrasound for more than 10 years. Chongqing Haifu's focused ultrasound system is currently approved in China and Europe to treat uterine fibroids, breast cancer, liver cancer, kidney cancer, soft tissue tumors, and pain control for pancreatic cancer and bone metastases. The technology is quite established for uterine fibroids, with more than 100 Chongqing Haifu systems in OB/GYN offices around China.
"Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive technique that should be the future for the treatment of many tumors,"said Dr. Zhang. "It is important that physicians and patients know about this approach and how patients can benefit from this treatment.”
After learning about the scope of focused ultrasound treatment in China and some of the exciting research expanding the use of the technology, Dr. Matsumoto commented that, "Dr. Zhang and his team have demonstrated great expertise and experience with ultrasound-guided HIFU therapy and its exciting potential to be translated to a wide array of disease states.”
Foundation Council Welcomes Meredith Woo and Charles F. Bryan, Jr.
We are pleased to announce that two new members have joined The Foundation Council: the Dean of the University of Virginia's (UVA) College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Meredith Jung-En Woo, and Dr. Charles F. Bryan, Jr., a distinguished historian and past CEO of the Virginia Historical Society (VHS).
"These leaders bring their unique academic, global, and historical perspectives to the Foundation,"stated Neal F. Kassell, MD, "We are delighted to have them as part of our team.”
Dr. Woo has been particularly instrumental in enhancing the College's scholarly visibility in the sciences, global studies, and research. She has already connected the Foundation with mutual friends and collaborators in the U.S. and could be instrumental in extending our mission in Asia.
During his 20-year tenure Dr. Bryan oversaw campaigns that raised more than $110 million, quadrupled the size of the VHS headquarters building and museum in Richmond, and significantly expanded statewide programs. He has Parkinson's and is interested exploring treatments like focused ultrasound that help patients deal with this progressive disease. He started the Movers and Shakers group in Richmond.
Supporters gathered to learn about focused ultrasound
"Focused ultrasound has the potential to help everyone in this audience…or someone that they care about."- Neal F. Kassell, MD
Northern Virginia Event Draws Crowd of Potential Supporters
Barbara Frisbie and Neal Kassell greet attendees as they arrive
On April 1st, more than 100 members of the medical and research community and friends gathered at the Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington to learn about the medical advances being achieved with the help of the Foundation.
Rick Frisbie introduces Dr. Kassell
Hosts Barbara and Rick Frisbie invited the group to learn about how focused ultrasound is changing the way that medicine is practiced and how our work is gaining support and attention from patients, clinicians, and others.
Vanderbilt's Grissom Receives External Research Award To Improve Brain Temperature Imaging
Will Grissom, PhD, from the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering has been awarded the first External Research Award of 2014 for his project titled "MR Temperature Imaging Toolbox for Focused Ultrasound Neurosurgery."This project aims to develop brain temperature imaging sequences and processing algorithms that directly address the current shortcomings of MR thermometry at each stage of therapy.
"Our aim is a product-capable system for which we seek clinical approval." - Fraunhofter-MEVIS researcher Sabrina Haase
Program to Enable Focused Ultrasound to Treat a Moving Internal Organ Begins in Europe
A European collaborative group has begun a translational research project to develop a clinical focused ultrasound system that would enable the treatment of a moving internal organ, such as the liver. The TRANS-FUSIMO (Clinical Translation of the Focused Ultrasound in Moving Objects) project builds on an earlier collaboration (FUSIMO) between 11 European countries that created simulation software.
The system will use an MRI-ultrasound combination device to monitor liver movement during respiration, in real time. Data collection will allow the software to calculate the path that the focused ultrasound should take to stay focused on the tumor despite respiratory movement. The MRI will measure temperature distribution in the abdominal region to allow precise control.
JTU Articles of the Month – Two Leading Centers Weigh in on Fibroid Treatment Options
Should all women with uterine fibroids be treated with focused ultrasound? If so, how does the cost compare to other treatment options? In the March and April issues of The Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound, manuscripts from UCLA and The Mayo Clinic report on research in these two areas.
"This reimbursement is a major milestone for EDAP and its HIFU technology. It further validates EDAP's HIFU devices for prostate cancer treatment."- EDAP Chief Executive Officer Marc Oczachowski
France's EDAP-TMS Gains Momentum on Sales, Reimbursement, and Regulatory Fronts
The French manufacturer EDAP-TMS has achieved several promising milestones this year. On April 21st, the French Ministry of Health announced that EDAP's Ablatherm-HIFU device to treat localized prostate cancer would be reimbursed. This was accomplished as part of a French policy to validate breakthrough therapies and accelerate reimbursement process based on clinical trials and data registries. The French Association of Urology initialized the process that led to reimbursement. Read EDAP's press release.
EDAP reported its 2013 financial results, including a greater than twofold increase in sales for their lithotripsy device in the U.S. and a record sales backlog of lithotripsy and HIFU devices entering 2014.
Profound Medical Completes Enrollment in Prostate Cancer Trial
Canadian company Profound Medical, Inc. has completed enrollment in its TULSA (Transurethral ULtraSound Ablation) clinical trial with 30 patients treated. This Phase I, multi-centered study is evaluating the safety and feasibility of using the Profound focused ultrasound device to treat patients with localized prostate cancer. Patients will be followed for 12 months after treatment.
Profound touts that their focused ultrasound device offers the ability to treat the whole gland in one session, with accuracy, minimal side effects, and a transurethral approach.
After our News Flash about the first brain tumor treatment with focused ultrasound, a personal story about the patient appeared in his local (California) newspaper: Forestville Doctor Recovering from Unique Brain Tumor Treatment in the Sonoma Press Democrat 4/9/14
The brain tumor treatment story was also picked up in India:
