Preclinical evidence of sonodynamic therapy in glioblastoma and challenges towards clinical translation: a review of the literature
Abstract Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is an emerging treatment modality for glioblastoma. While several preclinical studies have demonstrated tumoricidal effects, clinical translation remains limited. A systematic literature search identified thirteen preclinical studies demonstrating tumoricidal effects with substantial variability in ultrasound parameters, and six clinical trials with heterogeneous protocols. Although preclinical studies support the effectiveness of SDT in glioblastoma, the lack of standardized protocols reflects limited understanding of its underlying mechanisms.
Authors
- Philipp Backhaus (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4164-4104)
- Cristina Barca (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8034-2948)
- Michael Müther (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9427-5555)
- Walter Stummer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3460-0640)
- Zeynep Özdemir (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9733-2026)
- Marco Gallus
- Michael Schäfers
- Nicholas Ellens
- Tim Brederecke
- Enrico Küllenberg
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Acoustics
- Published
- 2026-05-18
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44384-026-00051-y
- Primary Topic
- Ultrasound and Hyperthermia Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00