IISc Ultrasound Oral Cancer Breakthrough

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science, in collaboration with clinicians at MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, have discovered that low-frequency ultrasound can selectively destroy oral cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This vulnerability is linked to reduced levels of Tropomyosin 2.1 in cancer cells. The study, led by Ajay Tijore and Rashmita Luha, found that ultrasound not only induces selective cell death (mechanoptosis) but also reduces cancer cell migration and disrupts protective tumor barriers. This non-invasive approach, which uses moderate mechanical forces instead of heat or drugs, offers a promising avenue for safer and more targeted treatments for oral cancer and potentially other accessible cancers like breast and skin cancer, especially relevant given the high incidence of oral cancer in India.