Transforming Pediatric Brain Cancer Treatment with Focused Ultrasound
Researchers at the Ultrasound and Elasticity Imaging Laboratory, led by Dr. Elisa Konofagou, are collaborating with Dr. Stergios Zacharoulis at Columbia University Irving Medical Center on a new clinical trial for treating diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a rare and aggressive brain tumor in children.
The treatment uses focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allowing existing drugs to reach tumors that would otherwise be inaccessible. This method is noninvasive and does not require anesthesia. Children remain awake during the session, which involves a brief application of sound waves to activate microbubbles in the bloodstream.
The trial has entered its second phase, with early results confirming that the procedure is safe and can successfully deliver drugs to the brain. Some patients have shown temporary improvement in symptoms.
This work builds on Dr. Konofagou’s two decades of research in focused ultrasound for therapeutic applications. Her lab was recently recognized as a Center of Excellence by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
Collaborators:
Dr. Elisa Konofagou, Robert and Margaret Hariri Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia Engineering, and Professor of Radiology and Neurological Sciences
- Dr. Stergios Zacharoulis, Associate Professor at Columbia’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Pediatric Oncologist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Read more about this pioneering effort in the Columbia Engineering feature:
