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Ultrasound diagnosis: new possibilities for non-invasive cancer detection
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
Ultrasound imaging offers a valuable and non-invasive way to detect and monitor cancerous tumors. However, invasive and damaging biopsies are usually required to obtain the most important information about cancer, such as cell types and mutations. The research team has developed a way to use ultrasound to extract this genetic information in a more gentle way.
At the University of Alberta, a team led by Roger Zemp has studied how intense ultrasound can release biological markers of disease, or biomarkers, from cells. These biomarkers, such as miRNA, mRNA, DNA, or other genetic mutations, can help identify different types of cancer and inform subsequent therapy. Zemp will present this work Monday, May 13, at 8:30 a.m. ET as part of a joint meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the Canadian Acoustical Association, taking place May 13-17 at the Shaw Centre in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
"Ultrasound, at levels higher than those used for imaging, can create tiny pores in cell membranes that then heal safely. This process is known as sonophoration. The pores created by sonophoration have previously been used to deliver drugs into cells and tissues. In our case, we are interested in releasing the contents of cells for diagnostics," explained Roger Zemp of the University of Alberta.
Ultrasound releases biomarkers from cells into the bloodstream, increasing their concentration to levels high enough for detection. This method allows oncologists to detect cancer and track its progression or treatment without the need for painful biopsies. Instead, they can use blood samples, which are easier to obtain and less expensive.
"Ultrasound can increase the levels of these genetic and vesicular biomarkers in blood samples by more than 100-fold," Zemp said. "We were able to detect panels of tumor-specific mutations, and now epigenetic mutations, that would otherwise not be detected in blood samples."
This approach has not only proven successful in discovering biomarkers, but is also cost effective compared to traditional testing methods.
"We also found that we can perform ultrasound-based blood tests to look for circulating tumor cells in blood samples with single-cell sensitivity at the cost of a COVID test," Zemp said. "This is significantly cheaper than current methods, which cost about $10,000 per test."
The team also demonstrated the potential of using high-intensity ultrasound to liquefy small volumes of tissue for biomarker detection. The liquefied tissue can be extracted from blood samples or using fine-needle syringes, a much more comfortable option than the more damaging method of using a larger-diameter needle.
More accessible cancer detection methods will not only allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment, but will also allow health care professionals to be more flexible in their approach. They will be able to determine whether certain therapies are working without the risks and costs often associated with repeat biopsies.
"We hope that our ultrasound technology will benefit patients by providing clinicians with a new kind of molecular analysis of cells and tissues with minimal discomfort," Zemp said.