The first NHS patient outside of clinical trials has received histotripsy, a pioneering ultrasound treatment for liver cancer, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. The hospital is the first in Europe to offer the procedure outside trials. The method uses focused ultrasound to destroy tumour tissue and can take around 30 minutes, with no need for surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy, allowing patients to spend less time in hospital. The treatment was performed on Roger Jackson, 80, from Bedford, earlier this month and he was discharged the day after.

Histotripsy works by using ultrasound to generate tiny gas bubbles in the tumour that form and collapse in microseconds, destroying cancer cells. It aims to spare surrounding healthy tissue and requires no invasive surgery. Addenbrooke’s will initially offer the treatment to selected patients with primary or secondary liver cancers. The procedure was fast-tracked under the Unmet Clinical Need Authorisation scheme (UCNA) overseen by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Dr Teik Choon See, a consultant interventional radiologist at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, led the procedure and said histotripsy marks a significant advance in cancer care, allowing more precise targeting while preserving healthy tissue. He noted that in some cases the treatment may stimulate an immune response to help clear remaining cancer. Roger Jackson said he felt privileged to be the first NHS patient and thanked the team for their care. Roland Sinker, chief executive of CUH, said the approach could shorten recovery times and free up beds. Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the development as the start of a new generation in cancer treatment and highlighted quicker access for NHS patients. The technology originated in the United States and has treated more than 2,000 patients worldwide since FDA approval in 2023, with studies under way into its use for other cancer types.