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In a world-first, clinicians at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have used advanced ultrasound technology to destroy part of a rectal tumour.

A team of radiologists, surgeons and oncologists at Hammersmith Hospital in London performed the procedure with high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), which uses sound waves to heat up and kill cancerous tissues.

Research study leader for HIFU Professor Paul Abel, said: “We expect HIFU will prove to be faster and more accurate at targeting tumours than conventional treatments, while minimising the damage to surrounding non-cancerous tissue. As there is no incision made during the procedure, it’s completely non-invasive so recovery time will be quicker too."

Hammersmith Hospital will initially offer HIFU to patients with advanced-stage rectal cancer who have exhausted all other conventional treatment options.

Professor Abel continued: "As this is the first time this procedure has ever been performed for rectal cancer, we need to study a wider group of patients to assess how effective the treatment is and whether it has the potential to be curative or to lengthen a patient’s life. But initially we are using HIFU to improve the quality of patients’ lives and relieve symptoms."

Rectal cancer patients often suffer from tenesmus – a painful and uncomfortable condition where they find it difficult to empty their bowels and need frequent trips to the toilet.

The high-intensity focused ultrasound ( HIFU ) takes place under general anaesthetic in theatre. The first patient to have the procedure had a low 'dose' of heat to kill the rectal cancer tissue (70°C). Clinicians will closely monitor patients receiving the treatment to discover the most effective temperature at which to perform the procedure.

Unlike radiotherapy, HIFU treatment can be given to a patient a number of times with minimal risk of toxicity.

The current HIFU research project follows on from studies elsewhere into prostate cancer patients where HIFU has been used to treat men with early stage cancer.

Almost 38,000 patients suffer from rectal cancer per year in the UK. Approximately one-third of these are within the rectum. It is the third most common cause of cancer worldwide.

The high-intensity focused ultrasound ( HIFU ) research project is being funded by a biomedical research centre (BRC) grant.

Source: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

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