Hong Kong will become the first city in Asia to conduct clinical trials of a non-invasive treatment for kidney tumours, extending the technology beyond liver and pancreatic cancers, with tycoon Li Ka-shing funding places for 30 patients across three private hospitals.
The Li Ka Shing Foundation announced on Wednesday that CUHK Medical Centre, Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital would launch the trials using histotripsy, a technology that uses focused sound waves to break apart tumours without surgical incisions.
The trials will assess the safety and effectiveness of the procedure in treating kidney cancer, extending the technology’s use in Hong Kong beyond liver and pancreatic tumours.