"We feel very honored that we are the first group to be co-funded by Pancreatic Cancer UK and the Focused Ultrasound Foundation," said Prof. ter Haar. "Combining therapeutic ultrasound with new and current therapies for pancreatic cancer has exciting potential that has been recognized by the two organizations that have most expertise in these areas. While a number of therapies exist for pancreatic cancer, it is clear that they are not as effective as in other cancer types because they cannot penetrate the tumor in the pancreas. We believe that ultrasound exposure of the pancreas will open up the tumor structure and allow better access for new treatment strategies, and also existing therapies, to the tumor cells. If this works as predicted, ultrasound will provide a new, minimally invasive technique for the enhancement of treatment of pancreatic cancer."

The study will combine the most effective ultrasound approaches and most efficient viruses to see if this inhibits tumor growth and improves survival.

"Pancreatic cancer's natural defenses make it extremely hard to treat and are a key factor in why survival has barely changed in decades," said Dr. Chris MacDonald, Head of Research at Pancreatic Cancer UK. "The protective shell of dense, fibrous tissue the tumor forms around itself makes it resistant to chemotherapy. This poses a huge challenge for doctors, so we're delighted to be funding this innovative new approach to overcoming the problem.

"By targeting the ultrasound directly at the outer shell of the tumor, the team at the ICR aims to breach it and enable the virus to cause a chain reaction that will destroy the cancer cells. The potential of this combination is exciting, but successful testing of the ultrasound technique alone could well offer hope for future patients. If researchers are able to show that the heat from the ultrasound can damage the structure of the tumor this knowledge could help to greatly enhance other therapies for pancreatic cancer, new and old alike."

"The research that exists today is early, but it suggests that focused ultrasound may play a significant role in addressing this deadly disease," says Focused Ultrasound Foundation chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. "The Foundation is dedicated to advancing the field and optimizing focused ultrasound therapy for these patients. Partnering with a renowned organization like Pancreatic Cancer UK to support this innovative study at ICR is an important step in that direction."

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