A trial of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for bone cancer in the lower part of the spine
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This trial looked at high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for a type of bone cancer called sacral chordoma. This is a 
that starts in the lower part of the spine.
The trial was open for people to join between 2013 and 2019. The team published some results in 2017.
More about this trial
Doctors often treat sacral chordoma with surgery and radiotherapy. When this trial was done, people who couldn’t have surgery could have radiotherapy to shrink the area of cancer and relieve symptoms.
Doctors wanted to find out if high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is useful for people in this situation. HIFU treatment can kill cancer cells with high frequency sound waves without needing an operation.
The main aims of this trial were to find out:
- if HIFU is a useful treatment for sacral chordoma
- more about the side effects
Summary of results
A total of 4 people had treatment as part of this trial between 2013 and 2017. The team weren’t able to treat anyone between 2017 and 2019.
The people taking part had between 1 and 4 high intensity focussed ultrasound (HIFU) treatments. One person had some before having HIFU treatment. And 3 had a .
The research team checked people’s skin for any damage or soreness after treatment. And they stayed in hospital overnight to be sure they were ok.
The team looked at whether the area of cancer had got smaller. They were able to do this for 3 of the people who took part. The cancer had got smaller in all 3 of them.
Side effects
HIFU did cause some mild or moderate side effects. No one had any severe side effects.
The most common side effect was discomfort at the treatment site on the first night. This was mild and relieved with painkillers.
Other side effects included:
- discomfort or changes in sensation in the buttock, leg and
perineum - swelling at the treatment site
- difficulty passing urine
Conclusion
The trial team concluded that it is possible to use HIFU to treat sacral chordoma. And that it may be a useful treatment. But more trials need to be done to find out more.
More detailed information
There is more information about this research in the reference below.
Please note, the information we link to here is not in plain English. It has been written for healthcare professionals and researchers.
High-intensity focused ultrasonic ablation of sacral chordoma is feasible: a series of four cases and details of a national clinical trial
Martin J. Gillies and others
British Journal of Neurosurgery, 2017. Volume 31, Issue 4
Where this information comes from
We have based this summary on the information in the article above. This has been reviewed by independent specialists () and published in a medical journal. We have not analysed the data ourselves.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Miss Stana Bojanic
Supported by
Chrodoma Foundation UK
NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
