A revolutionary non-invasive cancer treatment is showing remarkable results in Hong Kong, although it is not yet widely available in Canada.
The Edison Histotripsy System, developed by U.S.-based medical device company HistoSonics, uses focused ultrasound pulses to mechanically destroy cancerous tissue without surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
In an email to The Debrief, Mike Blue, Chairman & CEO, HistoSonics, explained that the company’s system works by destroying and liquefying targeted tissue and tumors “at a sub-cellular level and without the invasiveness or toxicity of traditional procedures.”
“And because it’s non-invasive and there is no toxicity, unlike radiation or chemotherapy,” Blue explained. Because of this, he says, “patients generally have fewer side effects or pain and go back to normal activities immediately following their treatment.”
“Histotripsy is also typically a single procedure, so there is no requirement to have additional or repeat procedures or disruption to a patient’s quality of life,” Blue said.
Clinical Data Shows Promise
New clinical data from HistoSonics’ HOPE4LIVER trial, published in the May 2025 issue of Annals of Surgery, shows the technology is both safe and highly effective in treating primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma) and metastatic liver tumors.
According to Dr. Tim Ziemlewicz, Professor of Radiology at the University of Wisconsin and co-principal investigator of the study, the results are “truly remarkable,” demonstrating “a durable treatment effect and an outstanding safety profile.”
The Edison System received FDA De Novo clearance in October 2023 after initial studies showed histotripsy was successful in targeting and destroying tumors in more than 95% of cases with minimal complications.
“The De Novo clearance established a brand-new regulatory classification and potential new option for patients who cannot tolerate invasive or toxic therapies, or who refuse them,” Blue told The Debrief.
“It is estimated that up to 50% of all cancer deaths can be attributed to metastatic tumors in the liver and liver failure, many of whom might benefit from histotripsy.”
Blue points to metastatic breast cancer as one example, noting that nearly 50,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed each year with breast cancer spread to the liver. These women now have an option to be treated with the hope of stabilizing and reducing their disease burden, he says, as the treatment “provides a new option and therapy that can be used to treat patients who haven’t had options in the past and who are failing other therapies.”
Histotripsy uses precisely controlled acoustic cavitation—tiny microbubble activity generated by focused ultrasound—to destroy tissue at the cellular level, allowing physicians to monitor treatment in real time. In one-year follow-ups, 90% of treated tumors showed local tumor control, exceeding many ablation and radiation approaches.
“Histotripsy offers a new category of therapy for liver cancer, one that is completely non-invasive,” said Dr. Clifford Cho, Chief Medical Officer at the University of Michigan Health-West and Co-Principal Investigator of the trial. “The technology allows physicians to monitor treatment in real time, ensuring precision and safety unmatched by any existing modality.”
Hong Kong implements it first,
While developed in the United States, clinical adoption has accelerated in Hong Kong, where more than 100 patients have already received treatment.
“The response in Hong Kong has been incredibly encouraging,” Blue told The Debrief. “Through our partnership with the Li Ka Shing Foundation, the Edison Systems are now in use at both the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong Sanitorium & Hospital, three of Asia’s leading medical institutions.”
Blue adds that local physicians in several areas have also expressed “strong interest in histotripsy’s potential to treat liver cancer,” which remains one of the region’s most challenging diseases.
“Early feedback has highlighted the simplicity of setup, precision of targeting, and excellent recovery profiles for patients,” Blue explained.
So why is Hong Kong ahead of Canada? Blue clarifies that U.S. hospitals began adopting the system after FDA clearance in October 2023, Hong Kong’s innovation-focused ecosystem and philanthropic support fast-tracked deployment first in the Asia-Pacific region.
“Hong Kong’s early adoption reflects its role as a gateway for pioneering medical technologies in the region and highlights the global relevance of histotripsy as a new standard of care,” he adds.
Although cleared for liver tumor destruction in the U.S., the FDA has not yet evaluated long-term cancer outcomes, such as survival rates—a key step before widespread reimbursement and adoption. Canada is awaiting Health Canada review.
Still, momentum is building. Major U.S. hospitals are in talks to adopt the system, and experts believe wider access could follow soon. If deployed broadly, histotripsy may mark a new era in cancer care — one without incisions, radiation, or chemotherapy, where recovery time is measured in days instead of weeks.
“These findings confirm what we hoped for, that histotripsy’s promise as a safe, durable, and precise therapy is being realized,” Cho said in a statement
“It’s a game-changer for cancer care,” he added.
Beyond liver cancer, ongoing clinical trials are exploring histotripsy’s potential in the future to treat kidney, breast, brain, and pancreatic tumors, with the hope of expanding its use across other cancer types.
“The Edison Histotripsy System has been designed to treat almost anywhere in the body,” Blue told The Debrief.
“We are confident that the benefits of the Edison Histotripsy System will translate to almost all new potential applications in the future,” he adds.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and the founder of VOCAB Communications. She currently appears on The Discovery Channel and Max and hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on YouTube and on all audio podcast streaming platforms. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton, Instagram: @BeingChrissyNewton, and chrissynewton.com.