Histotripsy Enhances Immune Response to Combat Cancer Outside the Liver

Following the FDA's approval in late 2023, histotripsy—a non-invasive ultrasound technology—has been implemented at the University of Michigan Health since early 2024 for treating liver tumors. This groundbreaking technique uses focused ultrasound waves to precisely destroy cancerous cells within the liver, significantly reducing the side effects commonly associated with traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation.

As histotripsy becomes more widespread across Michigan and neighboring states, researchers are actively studying how this therapy influences the body’s immune system. Led by Dr. Anutosh Ganguly, the team aims to understand if the immune responses observed after liver cancer treatments can be extended to other tumor types such as pancreatic cancer and melanoma.

The technology, developed by biomedical engineers at U-M, works by breaking down tumors through targeted ultrasound, which not only destroys cancer cells but also triggers immune system activation. A recent study published in
Molecular Cancer Therapeutics describes how histotripsy reduces tumor hypoxia—regions within tumors that have very low oxygen levels—thereby promoting immune system activity. The reduction of hypoxia allows an increase in CD8+ T cells, which are crucial for attacking cancer cells.

Ganguly explains that this process helps immune cells to move to the treatment site and other distant tumors, bolstering the body's overall ability to fight cancer. This suggests that histotripsy could play a dual role: direct tumor destruction and immune system activation, which may improve outcomes and response to additional therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy.

Future research will focus on further exploring how histotripsy impacts the immune system and other cancer sites, aiming to develop more comprehensive and less invasive treatment options with fewer side effects for patients.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-histotripsy-immune-cancer-cells-liver.html