Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center at The Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center has begun offering histotripsy, a newly approved non-invasive treatment for liver tumors, expanding therapeutic options for eligible patients with certain liver diseases. The centre is among a limited number of hospitals in the United States currently providing the technology.

Histotripsy, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, uses focused ultrasound energy to destroy liver tumours without surgery, radiation, or thermal damage. The treatment can be used for both primary liver cancers originating in the liver and metastatic tumours that have spread to the liver from other cancers. It is delivered as a single outpatient procedure, allowing many patients to return home the same day.

The technology employs image-guided sonic beam therapy and advanced imaging to precisely target tumour tissue. High-intensity ultrasound waves generate microscopic air bubbles within the tumour. As these microbubbles rapidly form and collapse, they create mechanical forces that break down and destroy cancer cells while sparing surrounding healthy tissue.

Physicians determine patient eligibility based on factors including the number, size, and location of tumours. Histotripsy is particularly relevant for patients who are not candidates for surgery or conventional therapies and may be safely combined with systemic cancer treatments in selected cases.

“Histotripsy provides a non-invasive approach to treating liver tumours that may be otherwise difficult to treat surgically,” said Dr Zoe Larned, Medical Director at Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center. She added that the technology enables patients to access advanced treatment options closer to home.

The effectiveness of histotripsy has been evaluated over more than two decades of clinical research. Recent studies in Europe and the United States demonstrated its ability to successfully destroy primary and metastatic liver tumours in humans, leading to regulatory approval. Additional clinical trials are ongoing to explore future applications of the technology.

Patients receiving histotripsy at Ochsner MD Anderson benefit from a multidisciplinary care model involving interventional radiologists, hepatologists, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and radiation oncologists. Treatment plans are developed collaboratively to ensure personalised and coordinated care.

Ochsner MD Anderson is known for its cancer research and clinical trial programmes, including Louisiana’s only Phase I clinical trial programme. The centre holds multiple national accreditations and has been recognised by U.S. News & World Report for high performance in several cancer treatments and surgical specialties.