Smart Cancer Treatment: Ultrasound-Activated Attack
- LOS ANGELES (April 5, 2025) — A new generation of CAR-T cell therapy, enhanced with ultrasound control, is demonstrating the potential to significantly improve treatment for solid tumors,...
- Researchers at the University of southern California (USC) have developed "Echoback" CAR-T cells, a modified version of the therapy designed to overcome limitations in treating cancers beyond blood...
- the Echoback cells are designed to respond to ultrasound, allowing for remote control of their activity.
Ultrasound-controlled CAR-T Cells Show Promise in Solid Tumor Treatment
Table of Contents
- Ultrasound-controlled CAR-T Cells Show Promise in Solid Tumor Treatment
- Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells: A Breakthrough in Solid Tumor Treatment
- What is CAR-T Cell Therapy?
- How is CAR-T Cell Therapy Being Improved?
- What are “Echoback” CAR-T Cells?
- How Do Echoback CAR-T Cells Work?
- What are the Advantages of Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells?
- How Does Ultrasound Activate the CAR-T Cells?
- What Kind of Solid Tumors Can Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells Treat?
- Comparing Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells vs.First-Generation CAR-T cells
- What are the Next Steps for this Research?
T cells attacking cancer cells”>LOS ANGELES (April 5, 2025) — A new generation of CAR-T cell therapy, enhanced with ultrasound control, is demonstrating the potential to significantly improve treatment for solid tumors, according to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
‘Echoback’ CAR-T Cells: A Novel Approach
Researchers at the University of southern California (USC) have developed “Echoback” CAR-T cells, a modified version of the therapy designed to overcome limitations in treating cancers beyond blood malignancies like leukemia. Customary CAR-T cell therapy involves modifying a patient’s T cells to recognize and attack cancer cells.
the Echoback cells are designed to respond to ultrasound, allowing for remote control of their activity. Ying Xiao wang, a biotechnology professor at USC and lead researcher, explained that these cells exhibit a unique feedback mechanism, responding to tumor cells with targeted attacks.
Extending the Reach of CAR-T Therapy
Longway Ryu, also a biotechnology professor at USC and a key contributor to the research, noted that first-generation ultrasound-controlled CAR-T cells, while more stable then standard treatments, could only attack cancer cells for approximately 24 hours.In contrast, the Echoback CAR-T cells remain active for at least five days when stimulated by ultrasound at the tumor site.
Ryu stated that the extended activity could reduce the frequency of treatments. “If the speaker needs to be treated daily when applying the first generation ultrasound control CAR-T cells, you can only go to the hospital once every two weeks if you apply the eco-back CAR-T cell.”
How Ultrasound Activates the Cells
the ultrasound technology acts as an “on switch,” triggering the CAR-T cells to detect and attack surrounding cancer cells upon receiving short,10-minute pulses.
Wang emphasized the potential of this innovation: “Eco-back CAR-T cells have a long-lasting function even in short temporary stimuli, so it will be a breakthrough and milestone in the CAR-T cell sector in that it can kill the tumors in the local area much better.”
Ryu added that the Echoback cells exhibit a “smart function,” reacting immediately to tumor cells and then gradually decomposing their CAR molecules after the cancer cells are eliminated, minimizing harm to normal cells.
Promising Results in Animal Studies
In studies involving mice, Echoback CAR-T cells demonstrated superior performance compared to standard CAR-T cells in treating various solid tumors, including prostate cancer and gliocytes, a type of brain tumor, according to Ryu. The effects of the Echoback cells also lasted longer.
Ryu concluded, “The eco-back CAR-T cells have opened the doors of more powerful, precise and patient-kind cancer treatment,” adding, “the most engaging part is that CAR-T cells are smart enough to hear ultrasound and detect tumor cells.”
Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells: A Breakthrough in Solid Tumor Treatment
What is CAR-T Cell Therapy?
CAR-T cell therapy stands for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell therapy. It’s a type of immunotherapy used to treat certain cancers. In this therapy, a patient’s T cells (a type of immune cell) are modified in a lab. These modified T cells are then reintroduced into the patient’s body, where they can recognize and attack cancer cells.
How is CAR-T Cell Therapy Being Improved?
CAR-T cell therapy is being improved with the introduction of ultrasound control. Researchers have developed a new generation of CAR-T cells that are activated by ultrasound.these new cells, called “Echoback” CAR-T cells, can be precisely controlled, offering the potential for more effective and targeted cancer treatment, particularly for solid tumors.
What are “Echoback” CAR-T Cells?
“Echoback” CAR-T cells are a modified version of CAR-T cells. The key difference is that their activity is controlled by ultrasound pulses. This allows researchers to activate the cells at the tumor site, offering greater control over the therapy.
How Do Echoback CAR-T Cells Work?
Echoback CAR-T cells are designed to respond to ultrasound.When short,10-minute ultrasound pulses are applied at the tumor site,the Echoback cells are triggered to detect and attack surrounding cancer cells. These cells also exhibit a “smart function,” reacting instantly to tumor cells and then gradually decomposing their CAR molecules after the cancer cells are eliminated, minimizing harm to normal cells.
What are the Advantages of Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells?
Ultrasound-controlled CAR-T cells offer several advantages over traditional CAR-T cell therapy:
Targeted Treatment: Ultrasound allows for precise activation of the CAR-T cells at the tumor site.
extended Activity: Echoback CAR-T cells remain active for at least five days when stimulated by ultrasound at the tumor site. The source material states, by comparison, that previous generation cells are active for approximately for 24 hours.
Reduced Treatment Frequency: The extended activity could reduce the frequency of treatments.
Smart Function: Echoback cells react immediately to tumor cells and then decompose their CAR molecules after the cancer cells are eliminated, minimizing harm to normal cells.
How Does Ultrasound Activate the CAR-T Cells?
Ultrasound technology acts as an “on switch” for the Echoback CAR-T cells. Short, 10-minute ultrasound pulses trigger the CAR-T cells to detect and attack surrounding cancer cells.
What Kind of Solid Tumors Can Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells Treat?
Studies involving mice show that Echoback CAR-T cells demonstrate superior performance in treating various solid tumors. According to the source article, these include:
Gliocytes (a type of brain tumor)
Comparing Ultrasound-Controlled CAR-T Cells vs.First-Generation CAR-T cells
Here’s a comparison of the key differences between first-generation, and now ultrasound-controlled, Echoback CAR-T cells:
| Feature | First-Generation CAR-T Cells | Echoback CAR-T Cells |
|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound Control | No | Yes |
| Activity Duration | Approximately 24 hours | At least 5 days (when stimulated by ultrasound) |
| Treatment Frequency | Daily, according to the source material | Could be reduced to once every two weeks, according to the source material |
What are the Next Steps for this Research?
The research is still ongoing, and the next steps involve further testing and clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Echoback CAR-T cells in humans.