Histotripsy ultrasound to boost the body’s attack on cancer
Official title: Harnessing the therapeutic potential of histotripsy focused ultrasound-induced immunogenic cancer cell death
Funded at Van Andel Research Institute · NIH-11332751 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment uses focused ultrasound to break apart cancer cells non-invasively and trigger the immune system to fight cancer more effectively, including distant tumors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Van Andel Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Grand Rapids, United States) |
| Project start | August 3, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $496,922 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA269394-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11332751 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with cancers that are responsive to immune therapies or those with tumors accessible to focused ultrasound may be eligible for future trials or related studies.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients, especially those with tumors not exposed to ultrasound or those unlikely to mount an immune response, may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how histotripsy, a non-thermal ultrasound method, can make cancer cells more visible to the immune system and provoke a systemic anti-tumor response. It aims to uncover the mechanisms by which histotripsy releases cancer antigens and drives necroptosis, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy. By studying these processes, researchers hope to explain why this approach can cause regression of tumors not directly targeted by treatment. The work will involve experiments that link ultrasound-induced cell damage to immune activation and tumor control in models that mimic human cancer.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective cancer immunotherapies and help treat cancers that are currently hard to treat, such as pancreatic cancer.
How similar studies have gone: Preclinical work and early clinical observations suggest histotripsy can stimulate anti-tumor immunity and distant tumor regression in some settings.
Where this research is happening
-
Van Andel Research Institute
Grand Rapids, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cho, Clifford — Van Andel Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Cho, Clifford
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.