Indian Researchers Develop Novel Technique to Target and Destroy Oral Cancer Cells - Video

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), in collaboration with clinicians from MS Ramaiah Medical College and Hospitals, have developed a promising approach that uses low-frequency ultrasound to selectively destroy oral cancer cells while leaving healthy cells largely unharmed. The findings, published in Materials Today Bio, offer a potential non-invasive strategy for treating oral cancer, which remains a major health challenge in India.

The study found that oral cancer cells are especially sensitive to moderate mechanical stimulation produced by ultrasound. This vulnerability is linked to lower levels of Tropomyosin 2.1, a protein that helps normal cells detect and withstand mechanical stress. Because cancer cells have reduced amounts of this protein, exposure to ultrasound triggers their death, whereas healthy oral epithelial cells are able to tolerate the same treatment.

Beyond killing cancer cells, ultrasound also reduced their ability to migrate and invade surrounding tissues, both of which are key processes in cancer progression. Using a three-dimensional co-culture model that closely mimics the human oral tumor environment, researchers observed that ultrasound disrupted the dense protective barriers surrounding tumors.

These barriers often prevent chemotherapy drugs and immune cells from penetrating deep into tumors, reducing treatment effectiveness. By weakening these defenses, ultrasound could potentially improve the delivery of existing therapies and enhance anti-cancer immune responses.

The researchers emphasized that ultrasound is already an established, non-invasive medical technology, making it an attractive candidate for future cancer treatment. Unlike conventional approaches that primarily rely on drugs or heat, this method targets the mechanical weakness of cancer cells.

Importantly, the study used patient-derived tumor samples rather than standard laboratory cell lines, making the findings more representative of real-world disease. The team now plans to test the approach in advanced preclinical models and investigate whether combining ultrasound with current treatments can further improve drug delivery, treatment response, and outcomes for patients with oral cancer.

REFERENCE: Luha R, Sankar G, Kumar A, Kumari A, Kulkarni K, Pratap R, Kapali A, Tijore A, Revealing biomechanical vulnerabilities in oral cancer cells using 3D coculture platform and low-frequency ultrasound, Materials Today Bio (2026). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590006426006204?via=ihub