“Popping” bubbles to treat cancer

December 17, 2007 | Source: BBC News

University of Oxford scientists are trying to harness the energy released when bubbles collapse as a way of killing off cancer cells.

They have built a device to beam waves of ultrasound into the body, generating bubbles at the site of a tumor.

When these bubbles “pop,” they release energy as heat, killing rogue cells.

The new technique will be used in clinical trials to treat patients with kidney and liver tumors.