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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: Neurosurgery. 2016 Nov;79(5):643–654. doi: 10.1227/NEU.0000000000001399

Table 2.

Completed and ongoing clinical trials studying focused ultrasound in neuro-oncology

Application Phase Tumor Type Patients Adverse Effects Outcome Reference
Thermal
ablation		 I Recurrent
glioblastoma		 3

  • Mild transient worsening of pre-existing dysphasia

  • Thermal lesion in right cerebral peduncle, mild left hemiparesis

 Resolution of
enhancement of treated
volume in 2 of 3
patients		 Ram et al,
200622
I Glioblastoma 4

  • Intracranial hemorrhage resulting in mortality (n = 1)

 Limitations in device
power prevented
thermal coagulation		 McDannold
et al, 201035
I/II High grade
glioma or brain
metastasis		 Ongoing - - NCT01698437,
NCT00147056,
NCT01473485
Radiosensitization I Grade III
astrocytoma
and
glioblastoma		 15

  • Increased deficit (n = 1)

  • Scalp heating (n = 1)

  • Intracranial hemorrhage (n = 4)a

  • Superficial thermal lesion (n = 2)

 Target temperature
achieved in 41.9% of
measured regions		 Guthkelch et al,
199124
Sonodynamic
therapy		 - - - - - -
Blood-brain barrier
opening		 I Glioblastoma 1 Unknownb Blood-brain barrier
opening confirmed
with contrast
enhancement on MRIb 		NCT02343991
Enhanced local
delivery		 - - - - - -
Immunomodulation - - - - - -
a

Intracranial hemorrhage occurred as a result of thermocouple probe placement, and was symptomatic in 2 cases.

b

Recruitment of additional patients is currently ongoing. Additional information is needed before comments regarding adverse effects and outcomes can be offered.