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Using ultrasound to prevent cancer cells migrating

28 March 2023

Keep Still

Trying to stop cancer spreading is like catching sand in your hands. If any of a tumour’s countless cells break out and start anew in another organ, the consequences can be deadly. Immobilising them altogether would help keep control of the problem. A study examined the potential for low intensity ultrasound – high wavelength sound waves like those used in antenatal scans – to keep cancer cells in their place. The researchers subjected a layer of pancreatic cancer cells to continuous ultrasound for 20 minutes, and watched as the population of cells migrated to repair a wound (video, bottom, compared to untreated cells, top. Cells are coloured according to their direction of travel to help analyse the results). They found that movement was greatly reduced even 2–3 days later. If this approach works in future tests in animals – and eventually people – it could provide an affordable, non-invasive way to stop cancer spreading.

Written by Anthony Lewis

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BPoD stands for Biomedical Picture of the Day. Managed by the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences until Jul 2023, it is now run independently by a dedicated team of scientists and writers. The website aims to engage everyone, young and old, in the wonders of biology, and its influence on medicine. The ever-growing archive of more than 4000 research images documents over a decade of progress. Explore the collection and see what you discover. Images are kindly provided for inclusion on this website through the generosity of scientists across the globe.

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