Researchers at Sichuan University in China have developed a laser therapy that selectively kills pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors while preserving the surrounding healthy tissue. The technology, built around a 6.1-micron laser, takes advantage of the characteristic collagen fingerprint within PDAC tumors to focus the laser energy where it is needed the most.
The technology has received full approval from the Chinese National Medical Products Administration and will be developed by Hymson Laser Intelligent Equipment. The therapy is authorized for adults with advanced PDAC who are no longer eligible for surgery because of the advanced nature of their disease. Corresponding author of the study, Dr Houkun Liang noted, “Our technology, for the first time, utilizes the tumor’s molecular fingerprint to achieve selective ablation.”
The results
The preclinical trials conducted on human tissue and in animal models showed promising results. A single laser ablation treatment reduced tumor growth to 18 percent of the control samples, with minimal damage observed to the adjacent healthy tissue. Preliminary human trials conducted on 13 patients showed similar tissue selectivity; ablation was consistently two to three times more targeted to malignant tissue. Better yet, the trial did not report any adverse events.
The laser recognizes the tumor by the collagen fibers present in the growth. Collagen absorbs the most light and laser energy at the 6.1-micron wavelength. The laser emitted a short femtosecond burst of energy whenever it detected the signature wavelength in the tumor tissue. The result is intense localized heating and “explosive vaporization” of the tumor tissue. Dr Liang noted, “Selective ablation for PDAC represents a major technological leap. By minimizing harm to healthy tissue, we hope to improve patient comfort, speed up recovery, and expand access to effective care for those faced with this devastating cancer.”
Next steps
The team is expecting to begin expanded clinical trials in China in early 2026, with submissions to international regulatory bodies possible in 2027. The laser treatment, guided by ultrasound, will be delivered through a minimally invasive hollow-core fiber needle, allowing for precision delivery in an anatomically challenging region.
Several technical challenges will need to be resolved before clinical trials can determine the safety and efficacy of this approach in large human populations. The authors want to test a more powerful version of their technology to assess its feasibility in the clinic. They noted that an improved hollow fiber delivery system is in development to refine the technique. Specifically, PDAC tumors can be notoriously irregular, and a more refined tumor detection procedure must be developed to ensure the whole growth can be removed in a single treatment.
All things being equal, it might be possible to extend this technology to other collagen-rich tumors such as breast, colon, kidney, skin, and brain tumors. As it is, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive disease capable of silently spreading beyond the pancreas; it has a 10 percent five-year survival rate. Development of an effective and highly selective intervention like femtosecond laser technology could represent an important step forward in treating these cancers.
Tumors have covertly developed several mechanisms by which they can flourish within us, but they might discover that it’s going to be hard to argue with a laser.
Cliff Dominy is a medical writer.
