Ultrasound-guided interstitial photothermal therapy generates improved treatment responses in a 9464D model of neuroblastoma.

We describe the use of ultrasound image guidance to improve treatment outcomes when administering interstitial photothermal therapy (I-PTT), an experimental cancer treatment modality. I-PTT is a promising thermal therapy for tumors using intratumorally injected nanoparticle-based photothermal agents activated by an interstitially placed laser diffuser. We hypothesized that ultrasound-based image guidance yields improved tumor treatment outcomes in terms of tumor regression and survival by improving the accuracy of the placement of the laser fiber and nanoparticles within a tumor and facilitating more precise PTT delivery.