Funding secured for innovative liver cancer research

Leeds researchers have won a £6 million grant for a project to test an innovative device which uses sound to treat advanced, complex cancerous liver tumours

The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) has confirmed the funding for research into the HistoSonics Edison system, which uses sound waves in a novel, targeted, non-invasive way to liquify liver tumours.

 The SONiC-LIVER trial (NIHR510518), led by Professor Tze Min Wah of the University of Leeds School of Medicine and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, will optimise this technology for NHS adoption, and will evaluate its safety and subsequent effectiveness, hopefully leading to faster recovery and better quality of life for patients, with economic benefits for the NHS.

Around 7,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer each year (Cancer Research UK liver cancer incidence statistics) and it is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the UK, with numbers of cases increasing. Patients with advanced, inoperable cancer have limited therapeutic options.

Professor Wah helped to secure a HistoSonics pioneering non-invasive platform as part of a NIHR Capital Research Infrastructure Award awarded to Leeds Teaching Hospitals to advance research into new cancer therapies. 

The HistoSonics Edison therapy system at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Credit: LTHT

She said: “Acquisition of this device represents a significant milestone in our efforts to improve treatment options for people affected by liver cancer and could transform the way liver cancer is treated across the NHS. Through the SONiC-LIVER trial we will be able to explore whether this technology can be safely implemented into the NHS and whether it can improve patient outcomes and experience.”

The SONiC-LIVER trial will be managed by the University of Leeds’ Clinical Trials Research Unit (CTRU). CTRU Deputy Director Professor Deborah Stocken added: “The SONiC-LIVER trial is a unique opportunity to confirm quality assurance, reproducibility and safety of this technology as it is optimised for the NHS setting.

“Our novel trial design will allow us to learn and adapt how to best deliver the procedure, including the training needs, to ensure the technology, if shown to be effective, is scalable across the NHS.” 

These awards exemplify the strong partnerships between the University of Leeds and Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in clinical trials and health economics, as well as their expertise in non-invasive cancer treatments.

Further information

• Main image: Professor Tze Min Wah pictured with the HistoSonics system. Credit: LTHT

• Professor Tze Min wah is an NIHR  Senior Clinical and Practitioner Research Awardee (NIHR304552)

• Professor Deborah Stocken is an NIHR Research Professor (NIHR302439)

• The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NIHR or the UK Department of Health and Social Care.