Ultrasonic therapy for gynecologic tumors.
Clinical and potential applications of ultrasonic therapy for gynecologic tumors are overviewed in this minireview. As a noninvasive technique, extracorporeal high-intensity focused ultrasound was clinically used to treat uterine myomas. High-intensity focused ultrasound treats leiomyomas via shrinkage of tumor size, reduction of blood supply, and suppression of cell proliferation, resulting in a relief of symptoms and improvement of quality of life. Preclinical trials have confirmed that ultrasound enhanced a cytotoxic agent against cancers of ovary and cervix; insonation overcomes doxorubicin (adriamycin) and cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancers, suggesting a modality for refractory lesions; ultrasonic hyperthermia induces high temperature increase in deeper cancer tissues thus being a potential modality for treatment of cervical cancers. Transvaginal ultrasonic therapy can be applied for a lesion near the cervix. In summary, ultrasonic therapy is a promising treatment modality for gynecologic tumors, and might change clinical practices.
Yu
Tinghe
T
Department of Gynecological Cancer, Institute of Women and Children's Health, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. yutinghe@hotmail.com
Zhou
Su
S
Zhang
Jiao
J
D000282:Administration, Intravaginal; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007890:Leiomyosarcoma / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*