Regulation of the brain tumor microenvironment by focused ultrasound.

Authors: Fu K, Hu H, Zhou X, Li L, Yan L

Glioblastoma and other high-grade primary malignant brain tumors are a serious threat to the life and health of patients; consequently, their accurate diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Brain tumors are usually treated by surgical resection, radiotherapy and drug chemotherapy; however, such treatments have side effects such as trauma, infection, and radiation exposure. Furthermore, owing to limitations in conditions such as the skull and blood-brain barrier, noninvasive treatment and diagnosis of brain tumors have been challenging. In recent years, focused ultrasound (FUS) technology has shown great advantages and application potential because of its noninvasive and energy-focusing characteristics in brain tumors. From the perspective of the brain tumor microenvironment, FUS can produce mechanical and thermal effects by delivering sound waves to brain tissue; these sound waves can induce blood-brain barrier opening, radiation sensitization, targeted substance delivery, immune enhancement, angiogenesis and destruction, oxidative stress, interstitial hydraulic regulation, and brain tumor marker sonobiopsy. The feasibility and safety data from both animal models and clinical trials support FUS as having great potential for use in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors.

Introduction

Purpose Other

Study Objective To summarize the therapeutic effects of transcranial focused ultrasound on the brain tumor microenvironment and provide a comprehensive reference to promote its clinical translation.

Disease model Glioblastoma (high-grade primary malignant brain tumors)

Outcomes and Safety

Summary of Outcomes Focused ultrasound (FUS) noninvasively modulates the brain tumor microenvironment—opening the BBB/BTB to enhance targeted drug delivery and sonobiopsy, sensitizing tumors to radiation, promoting immune activation, altering angiogenesis and interstitial fluid dynamics, and affecting oxidative stress—showing therapeutic and diagnostic benefits in preclinical models; clinical data remain limited. The paper did not report specific FUS parameter settings (e.g., frequency, intensity, duty cycle) as being tested or successful.

Safety-related matter The paper notes conventional treatments have side effects (trauma, infection, radiation exposure) and states that feasibility and safety data from animal models and clinical trials support FUS’s potential; however, potential thermal bioeffects of FUS require stricter control and Phase 1/2 trials are urgently needed to establish safety profiles and efficacy across heterogeneous patient populations.

Brain Region

Visualization unavailable

Ultrasound Parameters

Focal Characteristics Focal depth: None; Focal length: None; Aperture size: None

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