NCT07873606Recruiting
Histotripsy x Pancreatic Cancer
Histotripsy for Pancreatic Cancer: a Novel Strategy for an Unmet Need
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 14 Oct 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest malignancies, with 5-year survival around 12% despite advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Existing ablative therapies (RFA, microwave, irreversible electroporation) are limited by thermal injury risk, proximity to vessels/ducts. Novel local therapies that can be integrated with systemic regimens are urgently needed. Histotripsy is a non-thermal focused ultrasound modality that uses controlled cavitation to mechanically liquefy tissue without thermal coagulation or ionizing radiation, with precision under real-time ultrasound guidance. Preclinical and early translational work in pancreatic models shows that histotripsy can safely ablate pancreatic tissue while sparing major vessels and ducts in large-animal models, and can alter the tumour microenvironment (TME) with increased release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), enhanced dendritic cell and macrophage activation, and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration in murine pancreatic tumours. This proposal aims to evaluate the safety, local tumour control, and immunologic effects of histotripsy in pancreatic cancer especially PDAC, positioning it as a platform to enhance responsiveness to contemporary systemic therapies. The HistoSonics Histotripsy System is now registered in the Medical Device Administration Control System from Department of Health in Hong Kong (HKMD no: 252842).
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 20 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 23 Sept 2026
- Start date
- 31 Mar 2026
- Primary completion date
- 25 Jan 2028
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Diseases
- Pancreatic cancer
- NCT number
- NCT07873606
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 20
- From 31 Mar 2026 to the primary completion date, 25 Jan 2028
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Portal vein thrombosis present
- Poor general condition with limited life expectancy
Other
- Refusal to take part in clinical trial
- Not fit for general anaesthesia
- Uncontrolled coagulopathy
- Extensive bowel interposition preventing safe targeting, per recent porcine safety data linking mis-targeting to bowel injury
Who the study is looking for
- Age ≥ 18 years old
- Fit for general anaesthesia
- Unresectable pancreatic cancer with, or without vascular encasement
- With or without distant metastasis
- Without portal vein thrombosis
- Good performance status:
- Tumour visible and targetable by ultrasound with acceptable acoustic windows
- Adequate hematologic, hepatic, and renal function
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Hong Kong Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Hong Kong | Hong Kong SAR China | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.