Sound waves may help deliver cancer drugs to the brain

NCT ID NCT03714243

Completed Disease control Sponsor: InSightec Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for BRAIN METASTASES are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

brain cancer breast cancer breast neoplasm HER2 positive breast carcinoma metastatic malignant neoplasm in the brain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BRAIN METASTASES BREAST CANCER

Contacts and locations

Locations

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.