Sonodynamic therapy with focused ultrasound and nanoparticle epirubicin shows promise for advanced pancreatic and bile duct cancers

A novel sonodynamic therapy combining focused ultrasound and a nanoparticle drug showed promising safety and efficacy in a first-in-human trial for advanced pancreatic and bile duct cancers. The treatment, using K-912 encapsulated in nanoparticles and high-intensity focused ultrasound, resulted in no severe adverse events. Tolerable doses were identified as 150W ultrasound power and 80 mg/m2 of K-912. The therapy achieved a 66.7% disease control rate, with significant tumor necrosis observed in over a third of patients and pain improvement in another third.