The University of Virginia Health System is enrolling women diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer in a new clinical trial that will combine two therapies: focused ultrasound and a cancer immunotherapy drug, according to the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.
Study participants will receive noninvasive focused ultrasound therapy using Theraclion's EchoPulse system to ablate part of the primary breast tumor or metastatic tumors and also doses of pembrolizumab (Keytruda, Merck).
The Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Virginia will provide funding for the trial, which will be led by Drs. Patrick Dillon and David Brenin.
"Focused ultrasound induces a local immune response and may have the ability to change that paradigm, enabling a medication like pembrolizumab to make a difference," Brenin said in a statement released by the university.
