Archive · 22 Jul 2026
IISc's Ultrasound Method Shows Promise for Oral Cancer Treatment
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have found a new way to treat oral cancer using low-frequency ultrasound.
This method is non-invasive and selectively targets cancer cells while leaving normal cells mostly unaffected.
The study involved 15 patients with advanced oral cancer and showed that the cancer cells were highly vulnerable to this treatment.
The key difference lies in a protein called Tropomyosin 2.1, which is present in normal cells but reduced in cancer cells.
This makes cancer cells weaker when exposed to the ultrasound.
The method could potentially be used for other types of cancer as well, such as breast cancer and melanoma.
However, there are concerns about the risk of cancer cells spreading to neighboring tissues during treatment.
The new technology has been patented by IISc and could offer a more affordable and accessible treatment option in the future.
Researchers from IISc and MS Ramaiah Medical College discovered that Low Frequency Ultrasound (LFU) mechanostimulation can selectively target and weaken oral cancer cells.
The study involved 15 patients with Stage 4 oral cancer and found that cancer cells were highly vulnerable to LFU while normal cells were less affected.
The selective effect on cancer cells is due to the presence of Tropomyosin 2.1 protein, which is reduced in cancer cells.
The new method could potentially be used for other types of cancer, such as breast cancer and melanoma.
Current treatments for oral cancer in India face challenges such as high costs and the need for early detection and awareness.
- Who
- Researchers from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, in collaboration with the MS Ramaiah Medical College
- What
- Discovered potential applications of Low Frequency Ultrasound (LFU) mechanostimulation in treating oral cancer
- When
- Recent scientific breakthrough
- Where
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
- Why
- To address the significant health concern of oral cancer in India, which accounts for about 1 in 4 of all global cases
Potential Benefits of LFU
Concerns and Challenges
Effectiveness
Potential Benefits of LFU
Low Frequency Ultrasound (LFU) selectively targets and weakens cancer cells while sparing normal cells, offering a non-invasive treatment option.
Concerns and Challenges
The method may cause spillage of cancer cells into neighboring tissues, posing a risk during treatment.
Cost and Accessibility
Potential Benefits of LFU
The technology could potentially reduce treatment costs and improve accessibility for patients.
Concerns and Challenges
Current treatments are expensive, and early detection and awareness remain significant challenges.
- Institution
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
- Collaborating Institution
- MS Ramaiah Medical College
- Study Title
- Revealing biomechanical vulnerabilities in oral cancer cells using 3D coculture platform and low-frequency ultrasound
- Journal
- Materials Today Bio
- Sample Size
- 15 patients with Stage 4 oral cancer
- Key Protein
- Tropomyosin 2.1
- Five-Year Survival Rate in India
- 50%
- Five-Year Survival Rate in Developed Nations
- 68%