Sound waves zapping liver tumors: no knife needed?
NCT ID NCT04572633
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This trial tests a device called HistoSonics that uses focused ultrasound waves to mechanically destroy liver tumors without heat, needles, or incisions. About 47 adults with liver cancer or tumors that spread to the liver will receive this treatment. The main goals are to see if the device can fully cover the tumor and to check for serious side effects within 30 days.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Histotripsy (focused ultrasound device)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a non-invasive, needle-free option to destroy liver tumors, potentially reducing the need for surgery or radiation.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage, single-arm trial with only 47 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Risks include incomplete tumor destruction and procedure-related complications.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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47 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Subject is ≥18 years of age 2. Subject has signed the Ethics Committee (EC) or Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved trial Informed Consent Form (ICF) prior to any trial related tests/procedures and is willing to comply with trial procedures and required follow-up assessments 3. Subject is diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or liver metastases (mets) from other primary cancers 4. Subject is able to undergo general anesthesia 5. Subject has a Child-Pugh Score of A or B 6. Subject has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) grade 0-2 at baseline screening 7. Subject meets the following functional criteria, ≤7 days prior to the index-procedure: * Liver function: Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate transaminase (AST) \<2.5x upper limit of normal (ULN) and/or bilirubin \<2.5 ULN, and * Renal function: serum creatinine \<2x ULN, and * Hematologic function: neutrophil count \>1.0 x 10\^9/L and platelet \>50 x 10\^9/L 8. Subject has an International Normalized Ratio (INR) score of \<2.0 , ≤7 days prior to the index procedure 9. Subject has not responded to and/or has relapsed and/or is intolerant of other available therapies including locoregional therapies, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapies 10. The tumor(s) selected for histotripsy treatment must be ≤3 cm in longest diameter 11. Subject has an adequate acoustic window to visualize targeted tumor(s) using ultrasound imaging 12. Subject has a maximum of three (3) tumors to be treated with histotripsy during the index procedure, regardless of how many tumors the subject has. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Subject is pregnant or planning to become pregnant or nursing (lactating) during the trial period 2. Subject is enrolled in another investigational trial and/or is taking investigational medication and/or has been treated with an investigational device ≤30-days prior to planned index procedure date 3. In the Investigator's opinion, the subject has co-morbid disease(s) or condition(s) that would cause undue risk and preclude safe use of the HistoSonics System 4. Subject has a serum creatinine \>2.0 mg/dL or estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR) \<30, unless on dialysis 5. Subject has major surgical procedure or significant traumatic injury ≤2 weeks prior to the planned index procedure or not fully recovered (CTCAE grade 1 or better) from side effects/complications of such procedure or trauma 6. Subject has not recovered to common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTCAE) grade 1 or better from any adverse effects (except alopecia, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and peripheral neuropathy) related to previous anti-cancer therapy 7. Subject has a history of, or suspected to have, bleeding disorders that are uncorrectable 8. Subject has coagulopathy that is uncorrectable 9. Subject has a planned cancer treatment (e.g. resection, chemotherapy, etc.) after the planned index-procedure date and prior to completion of the 30-day follow-up visit 10. Subject has previous treatment with bevacizumab that has not been discontinued \>40 days prior to the planned index-procedure date 11. Subject has planned bevacizumab treatment prior to completion of the 30-day follow-up visit 12. Subject has previous treatments with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy that has not been discontinued ≥2 weeks prior to the planned index-procedure date and has not recovered (CTCAE grade 1 or better) from related toxicity (except alopecia and peripheral neuropathy) 13. Subject has previous treatment with immunotherapies that has not been discontinued ≥4 weeks prior to the index-procedure and has not recovered from related toxicity (CTCAE grade 1 or better) 14. Subject has a life expectancy less than six (\<6) months 15. In the opinion of the Investigator, histotripsy is not a treatment option for the subject 16. Subject has a concurrent condition that, in the investigator's opinion, could jeopardize the safety of the subject or compliance with the protocol 17. Subjects' tumor(s) is not treatable by the System's working ranges (refer to User Manual) 18. Subject has a known sensitivity to contrast media and cannot be adequately pre-medicated 19. Subjects' target tumor(s) has/have had prior locoregional therapy (e.g. ablation, embolization, radiation) 20. Subject is eligible for surgical resection 21. Targeted tumor(s) treatment volume overlaps a non-targeted tumor visible via imaging 22. The targeted tumor(s) is not clearly visible with diagnostic ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) imaging 23. The targeted tumor(s) is located in liver segment 1 24. The Planned Treatment Volume intended to cover the targeted tumor includes or encompasses any portion of the main portal vein, common hepatic duct, common bile duct, gallbladder or stomach/bowel.
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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
Locations
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Medical College of Wisconsin/Froedtert Hospital
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226, United States
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Miami Cancer Institute
Miami, Florida, 33176, United States
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Tampa General Hospital
Tampa, Florida, 33606, United States
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University Hospital - UW Health
Madison, Wisconsin, 53792-3252, United States
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University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States
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University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, 66160, United States
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University of Michigan Hospital
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109-5030, United States
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