NHS patients at a Cambridge hospital will be the first in Europe to receive a new ultrasound liver cancer treatment.
The treatment comes in the form of a device developed by HistoSonics, which is based in the US. The device provides a non-invasive method of destroying tumours with limited damage to surrounding tissues, eliminating the need for surgery. The technology itself is called histotripsy.
Patients will benefit from quicker recovery times and potentially lower rates of dangerous complications and hospital stays.
It is being rolled out at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, which is part of the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Patients are set to receive the treatment at the hospital from the summer.
A donation to the University of Cambridge from the Li Ka Shing Foundation - a longtime supporter of cancer research at the university - made it possible for the procedure to be implemented.
Reducing pressure
Roland Sinker, chief executive of Cambridge University Hospitals, said the device would help to lessen pressure on the hospital and improve patient outcomes.
“Histotripsy is an exciting new technology that will make a huge difference to patients,” he said. “By offering this non-invasive, more targeted treatment we can care for more people as outpatients and free up time for surgeons to treat more complex cases.”
“The faster recovery times mean patients will be able to return to their normal lives more quickly, which will also reduce pressure on hospital beds, helping us ensure that patients are able to receive the right treatment at the right time. We are delighted to be receiving this new state of the art machine.”
Professor Deborah Prentice, vice chancellor of the University of Cambridge, added: “Cutting-edge technology such as this histotripsy machine allows Cambridge to remain at the forefront of understanding and treating cancer, a position we aim to strengthen further with Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital.”
Plan for Change
The announcement came from the Department of Health and Social Care. Health secretary Wes Streeting authorised controlled early access to the histotripsy device through an unmet clinical need authorisation. The device is available through the Innovative Devices Assess Pathway programme.
Mr Streeting said the Plan for Change - the milestones the government wishes to meet before its parliamentary term ends - has allowed the government to bring forward treatments like the histotripsy device.
(Picture: Dr Teik Choon See, consultant interventional radiologist next to the Edison Histotripsy System. Credit: Cambridge University Hospitals)