Ultrasound May Selectively Attack Cancer Cells, IISc Study Finds

BY: Mary Rose Baba

Publish: Sun, 5 Jul 2026 (16:57 IST) Updated: Sun, 5 Jul 2026 (16:58 IST)

A new study by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, suggests that oral cancer cells may be uniquely vulnerable to low-frequency ultrasound, opening the door to a potential treatment approach that selectively targets cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue largely unaffected.

The research indicates that this vulnerability is linked to reduced levels of Tropomyosin 2.1, a mechanosensory protein that enables cells to detect and withstand mechanical stress. According to the researchers, lower levels of this protein make oral cancer cells less capable of surviving mechanical stimulation.

Ultrasound Triggered Selective Cancer Cell Death

Working with patient-derived oral tumour samples in collaboration with clinicians from MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, the research team investigated whether low-frequency ultrasound could selectively eliminate oral cancer cells.

The results showed that exposure to ultrasound-driven mechanical stimulation caused selective death of oral cancer cells, while healthy oral epithelial cells remained largely unaffected. The findings have been published in the journal Materials Today Bio.

"The novelty of this study lies in showing how ultrasound mechanostimulation can selectively target oral cancer cells by exploiting their mechanical weakness," said Ajay Tijore, Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at IISc.

"Instead of using heat or drugs, this approach uses moderate mechanical forces to damage cancer cells beyond their ability to recover," Tijore added.

A Different Use of Ultrasound

Ultrasound is widely known as a non-invasive imaging technology that uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of tissues and internal organs. In this study, however, researchers employed low-frequency ultrasound as a therapeutic tool to exploit the biomechanical weaknesses of oral cancer cells.

The researchers wrote that cancer cells exposed to carefully optimised ultrasound settings experienced apoptosis, or programmed cell death—referred to in the study as mechanoptosis—without causing damage to normal cells.

Reduced Ability of Cancer Cells to Spread

Beyond killing cancer cells, the study found that ultrasound significantly reduced their ability to migrate and invade surrounding tissues, two critical processes involved in cancer progression.

Using a 3D co-culture platform designed to replicate the oral tumour microenvironment, the team also observed that ultrasound disrupted the dense protective barrier formed by cancer-associated cells around the tumour.

This barrier often prevents drugs and immune cells from reaching the tumour core, making treatment less effective. Disrupting it could improve the delivery of future cancer therapies.

Consistent Results Across Multiple Patients

Researchers said one of the most encouraging aspects of the study was the consistency of the findings.

"What surprised us most was the consistency of the response across cancer cells derived from multiple patients from different cancer stages. They were highly vulnerable to ultrasound, while normal cells were much less affected," said Rashmita Luha, the study's first author and a PhD student in IISc's Department of Bioengineering.

Potential for Future Cancer Treatments

Since ultrasound technology is already approved for a variety of medical applications, the researchers believe the findings could accelerate the development of new treatment strategies based on ultrasound mechanostimulation.

However, they cautioned that further validation in advanced preclinical models is needed before the technique can be considered for clinical use.

If future studies confirm these findings, the approach could lead to safer and more targeted treatments for oral cancer and may also prove useful against other accessible cancers, including breast and skin cancers. (Inputs from PTI)