Sound waves may help deliver cancer drugs to the brain
NCT ID NCT03714243
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether a device that uses focused ultrasound can safely and temporarily open the blood-brain barrier in people with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain. Eight participants received the procedure, and researchers checked for side effects and whether the barrier actually opened. The goal was to see if this approach is safe enough to explore further for delivering cancer treatments directly to brain tumors.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
ExAblate focused ultrasound device
What this could lead to
If it works, this could offer a new way to deliver treatments directly to brain tumors without surgery or radiation.
What could go wrong
This was a very small early study (8 people) focused only on safety and feasibility. It does not prove the treatment works against cancer.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada