A study led by researchers from the Spanish Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) demonstrated the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy in inhibiting tumor cells in cases of pancreatic cancer.
The research, whose findings have been published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, paves the way for the development of new, non-invasive ultrasound-based therapies to immobilize the growth of solid tumors.
The center indicated in a statement that the growth of solid tumors is associated with the processes of proliferation and migration of cancer cells, adding that current treatments, which include ionizing radiation, destroy malignant and healthy cells.
“Our research raises for the first time the possibility of developing a novel treatment based exclusively on non-ionizing ultrasound technology,” which means A non-invasive, low-cost, easy-to-apply treatment with no side effects For patients, explained Itziar González, CSIC researcher at the Leonardo Torres Quevedo Institute of Physics and Information Technology (ITEFI).
The research used “in vitro” samples of pancreatic cancer, with low-dose ultrasound applied for just twenty minutes to a group of pancreatic cancer type 1 (PANC-1) cells, allowing group and individual progression to be halted. He said the cells are for at least two days.
“The application of ultrasound under certain acoustic conditions for 15 or 20 minutes inhibits the cells’ ability to move for long periods of time, more than 48 hours or even three days after treatment,” said the scientist.
The researchers also noted some inhibition in the cell’s proliferating processes, which they are currently analyzing in further lab experiments.
The next step to prove the efficacy and suitability of this treatment is to test it in mice with different types of tumors.
These experiments will be carried out in collaboration with researchers from Harvard Universities in the US and the Basque Country and the Ramon and Cajal Health Research Institute, using a small, adjustable animal ultrasound device.
