Surgeons and radiologists at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center are the first in New York City to have begun treating patients with a new machine that noninvasively ablates, or destroys, tumors on the liver. They have already begun treating patients using this exciting technology, which is changing the landscape of surgical intervention for these cancers.

The procedure, called histotripsy, uses focused ultrasound, which is delivered externally to destroy cancerous tissue while leaving surrounding tissue intact. Able to be used on patients who might otherwise be unlikely candidates for radiation or other ablation techniques, histotripsy uses real-time imaging and a narrow, 3-mm beam that allows for precise tissue removal and shrinking. It can also be used as a “bridging therapy,” shrinking a patient’s tumors to better prepare them for surgical resection, meaning removal.

Chrissy Martinez, a 52-year-old New Jersey mom, was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic pancreatic cancer in June 2023. At that time she had four tumors on her liver, and knew she needed a world-class team that had the experience and capabilities to handle her case. She had heard about Christopher Wolfgang, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery in the Department of Surgery, and set up an appointment with him. Dr. Wolfgang leads the multidisciplinary team of surgeons, interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists collaborating to bring groundbreaking treatment to patients seeking care at NYU Langone.

After working with her team of doctors and evaluating the best path for treatment, Martinez started receiving chemotherapy in September 2023, and Dr. Wolfgang suggested she get a Whipple procedure to remove her cancer. Before that, however, he discussed with her histotripsy, to ablate the tumors before surgery and improve her outcomes. This was an appealing option, as it was noninvasive, had a short recovery time, and would only require one visit. She had her histotripsy procedure in February 2024 and is doing well.

“This technology changed my entire outlook on my prognosis. The fact that doctors can reduce tumors without invasive surgery or radiation is astounding.”

—Chrissy Martinez

“My team of doctors at NYU Langone gave me access to the best care available,” said Martinez. “This technology changed my entire outlook on my prognosis. The fact that doctors can reduce tumors without invasive surgery or radiation is astounding.”

The next step is to prepare for her Whipple procedure. With a positive outlook on her health, she is excited to see her 20-year-old son graduate from his police officer training program this September.

“This device allows us to offer ablation to patients who would normally not be good candidates, like Mrs. Martinez,” said Mikhail Silk, MD, the interventional radiologist at NYU Langone who performed her histotripsy procedure. “Even more exciting is the potential abscopal effect in patients with additional disease or microscopic tumors not caught by scans, shrinking them alongside the targeted tumors. The data on these additional benefits are preliminary, but it is a promising avenue for further research.”

Hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeons at NYU Langone are among the most experienced in the world. Together they have performed thousands of complex surgeries, including the Whipple procedure, as well as total, distal, and central pancreatectomies. In addition, members of this surgical team are prominent in the field for their skill and expertise in removing advanced pancreatic tumors typically considered inoperable.

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Ryan Dziuba
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