Light and then sound waves slowed the spread of brain tumor cells in a lab test
Original title: Inhibiting glioma cell invasion by sequential photo-sonodynamic therapy.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was done on cells in a lab, not in people. It is a very early step.
This was only tested on tumor cells in a lab dish.
The short version
In a lab test, light and then sound waves helped keep brain tumor cells from spreading.
What was studied. Scientists grew small balls of glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary cells inside a gel in the lab. With a drug called ALA, they tested light alone, sound waves alone, or light followed by two rounds of sound waves.
What they found. Light alone and sound waves alone each slowed the tumor cells from spreading into the gel. But after light alone, the cells started spreading again. Light followed by two rounds of sound waves slowed the spreading more than either one alone, and the effect lasted.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: Tumor cells left behind after surgery can cause a glioma: A tumor that starts in the glial cells, the support cells of the brain and spinal cord. Gliomas are given a grade from 1 to 4 describing how the tumor is expected to behave. See the glossary to come back. Light cannot reach deep into the brain, but sound waves can pass through the skull. One day, this mix might help stop leftover cells from spreading without another surgery.
What it doesn't mean: This was only done with tumor cells in a lab, not in people. It is very far from something a doctor can offer today. It is not a cure, and much more testing is needed first.
Source: PubMed, September 10, 2026 · Read the original
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