Singapore’s oncology landscape is set to experience a transformative shift with the introduction of non-invasive, ultrasound-based histotripsy technology, supported by healthcare collaborations aimed at improving outcomes for liver, kidney, and pancreatic cancer patients. These advancements will help Singapore strengthen its position in global cancer research and innovation, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The Li Ka Shing Foundation (LKSF) and Temasek Trust (TT) has recently committed SGD12 million to bring the first-ever histotripsy tumor clinical trials to Southeast Asia. The funding will equip the National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS) and the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS) with one histotripsy system each, while supporting clinical trials involving 40 patients with liver, kidney, or pancreatic cancers.
Jyoti Sharma, Medical Devices Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “The advent of histotripsy represents a significant advancement in non-invasive oncology treatment. This innovative technology holds promise for surmounting the challenges associated with traditional cancer therapies, thereby broadening the spectrum of treatment possibilities for patients with previously untreatable tumours.”
Histotripsy represents a non-invasive therapeutic technique that employs focused ultrasound to generate microbubbles. These microbubbles rapidly expand and collapse, producing localized shock waves that disintegrate tumors at the cellular level. Distinct from surgical or radiation treatments, histotripsy provides a pain-free, bloodless, and incision-free alternative, even for tumors deemed inoperable.
Sharma concludes: “By leveraging advanced technology and fostering cross-sector collaboration, Singapore not only enhances the treatment options available to its local patients but also establishes itself as a regional leader in medical research and innovation.”
