Ultra-steerable ultrasound therapy for soft tissue sarcoma
Official title: Ultrasound-guided Ultra-steerable Histotripsy Array System for Non-invasive treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11323137 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new ultrasound device is being developed to non-invasively shrink or remove soft tissue sarcomas while protecting nearby nerves, blood vessels, and bones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $540,997 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB034399-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323137 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with soft tissue sarcomas that are difficult to remove surgically—especially tumors close to major nerves, blood vessels, or bones—would be the most suitable candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with small, easily resectable sarcomas or those with widespread metastatic disease are less likely to benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
If I had a soft tissue sarcoma near important structures, this project is building an advanced ultrasound system that can precisely steer focused sound waves to mechanically break up tumor tissue without cutting. The technique, called histotripsy, uses controlled cavitation (microbubbles) instead of heat to turn tumor tissue into acellular debris while sparing vessels, nerves, and bone. Researchers will design an ultra-steerable array and ultrasound guidance tools, test them in controlled models, and prepare the approach for future clinical testing. The long-term goal is a non-invasive option to debulk or shrink tumors to make surgery easier or potentially replace it for some patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could provide a non-surgical option to shrink or remove hard-to-operate sarcomas and reduce the need for risky surgeries or amputations.
How similar studies have gone: Histotripsy has shown promise in animal studies and early human work for other tumor types, but using an ultra-steerable system specifically for soft tissue sarcomas is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Zhen — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Xu, Zhen
Related research
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Robotic ultrasound system to non-invasively remove soft tissue sarcoma
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This study is testing a new, gentle way to treat soft tissue sarcomas using focused ultrasound, which aims to destroy the tumors without harming nearby important structures, and it's designed to help improve the treatment experience and quality of life for patients like you.
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SPORE in Soft Tissue Sarcoma: targeted therapies and biomarkers to help patients
A big research effort at a major cancer center aims to develop targeted treatments and biomarkers to improve outcomes for people with soft tissue sarcoma.
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This project combines an antibody that soaks up a tumor-made immune blocker with natural killer (NK) cell therapy to help dogs and, eventually, people with soft tissue sarcoma fight their tumors.
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This project is testing targeted drugs and immunotherapies for people with soft tissue sarcoma, including adults and children.
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.