Demonstrator of a robotic system for combined ultrasound radiotherapy. ©ICCAS
REPORTING THE RESULTS FROM THE CONCLUDED SONO-RAY PROJECT 18.12.2020
As part of the SONO-RAY project, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research with six million euros, scientists from ICCAS and the National Center for Radiation Research in Oncology (OncoRay) have achieved promising results with a novel cancer therapy. In addition to ionizing radiation therapy, the combined method incorporates also focused ultrasound as a treatment modality. The research group expects the combined treatment with high-intensity mechanical waves of the ultrasound to improve the effectiveness of radiation therapy while also causing fewer side effects. Preclinical tests in a mouse model at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig showed reduced tumor growth after the combined treatment. There was no detectable damage in healthy organs. The research results were recently published in the journal CELLS.