Baptist Health Treats First Liver Cancer Patients with Histotripsy
The non-invasive treatment offers hope for patients who cannot undergo surgery or have failed other treatments
MIAMI, FL – September 25, 2024 – Baptist Health is among the first few centers in the nation to offer a new non-invasive procedure to treat liver cancer called histotripsy. The technology uses ultrasound energy to destroy cancer tissue.
Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health, was one of 8 hospitals involved in the initial clinical trials that led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the procedure and is the only hospital in South Florida to offer the treatment.
“Since FDA approval, we’ve now treated three patients whose cancers metastasized to the liver,” says Govindarajan Narayanan, M.D., chief of interventional oncology at Miami Cancer Institute and a vascular interventional radiologist with Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. Histotripsy involves a multidisciplinary team from both Institutes.
“We are happy to say that none of our patients experienced any pain immediately after the procedure and they are all doing very well,” he adds.
The American Cancer Society estimates that about 41,630 new cases of primary liver cancer will have been diagnosed in the U.S. in 2024. Thousands more people develop tumors in the liver when cancer that originated in other parts of the body (most commonly colorectal, pancreas and breast) metastasize to the liver. The liver is the second-most common site of metastatic disease.
“The advantage of histotripsy is that there are no incisions, no placement of needles or catheters, and no radiation,” Dr. Narayanan says. “Histotripsy is another option for patients who are at high risk for surgery or who have failed other treatments.” The procedure is also relatively quick, and most patients stay just one night in the hospital. Some are able to return home the same day.
Histotripsy works by creating microscopic bubbles within a tumor’s cells, which then coalesce, creating a cavity and causing them to die. A month after undergoing histotripsy, patients have an MRI to evaluate the procedure’s effectiveness.
Because the Institute participated in the #HOPE4LIVER clinical trial, it was poised to offer the new procedure upon FDA approval. “It’s very important to lead and participate in these types of trials because you already have experience when the procedures are deemed safe and efficacious. You are familiar with the technology, and you understand which patients are most appropriate.”
Because histotripsy is looking very promising in the treatment of liver cancer, clinical trials are now underway to explore its use in kidney tumors.
For more information on a variety of interventional oncology procedures, including histotripsy, offered at Miami Cancer Institute, click here.
About Baptist Health South Florida
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 27,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health South Florida has internationally renowned institutes specializing in cancer care, brain and spine care, heart and vascular care and orthopedic care. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and The Baptist Health PineApp, a virtual health platform. Baptist Health South Florida is an academic and clinical affiliate of Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health South Florida has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and is the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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