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In what is seen as a turning point in the evolution of non-invasive breast cancer treatment options, researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute have created technology that can destroy tumors without surgery during an outpatient procedure.
The first patient in the U.S. was treated with the MUSE breast cancer treatment system in February 2023 in a novel clinic trial. The technology uses two non-surgical methods to find and destroy breast tumors through ablation, meaning the removal of body tissue. First, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to locate and target tumors. Once the tumors are found, a focused ultrasound uses high intensity to heat the tissue and remove the cancer cells. The total time of this non-surgical breast cancer treatment was 90 minutes. The procedure lasts a few hours and allows the patient to remain awake.
Cindy Matsen, MD, breast surgeon at Huntsman Cancer Institute and associate professor in the department of surgery at the University of Utah (the U), is the principal investigator for this clinical trial. Allison Payne, PhD, associate professor of radiology and imaging sciences at the U, invented the device with other radiology faculty and developed the procedure.
The MUSE system is centered on a unique table Payne designed to help patients feel comfortable during the MRI. The specialized device focuses ultrasound waves into a small point of the tumor. These waves heat the cancer tissue in 30-second intervals and move around to target the entire tumor.
"In the future, we hope this ablation will be effective enough to replace surgery for some women.”
—Cindy Matsen
“The purpose of the current study is to see how well patients tolerate the ablation, basically how much pain they have during the procedure,” says Matsen. “We’ll also be looking at the tissue after surgery to see how effective the ablation was. Only 50% is being ablated at this point to make sure we can still do tests that may be needed on the tumor afterwards. In the future, we hope this ablation will be effective enough to replace surgery for some women.”
This new breast cancer treatment is being tested in a phase 1 clinical trial led by Matsen. Eventually, researchers hope this treatment will progress through phase 3 clinical trials. Payne predicts it will take at least five years for MUSE to become available for commercial use to provide breast cancer treatment without surgery.
“The clinical trial in no way impedes the patient’s standard of care. Patients that participate are generously giving their time so that we can evaluate this technology for future use,” explains Payne. “The Huntsman Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Office and Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences staff have been amazing. I am very thankful for their work.”
Anyone interested in this non-surgical breast cancer treatment trial can ask their doctor about participating in the study. Find more information at ClinicalTrials.gov.
