Focused Ultrasound Breaks Blood-Brain Barrier, Glioblastoma Research Published Internationally
Chang Gung Hospital's research team has developed a new technology using focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier for glioblastoma treatment. This enhances the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs, extending progression-free survival by 1.5 times compared to traditional therapies. The clinical trial results were published in an international neurosurgery journal and featured as a top story on an international focused ultrasound foundation's official website on January 30, 2026.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 15:55
- 🔍 Collected: May 13, 2026 at 16:02 (6 min after Published)
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, 13th) Glioblastoma is difficult to treat. A team from Chang Gung Hospital successfully used "focused ultrasound" to open the long-unbreakable blood-brain barrier, combined with anti-cancer drugs for treatment. The method showed high safety and efficacy 1.5 times that of traditional treatments, with clinical trial results published in an international journal.
This research was led by Professor Wei Kuo-chen of Chang Gung Hospital's Department of Neurosurgery and his brain tumor research team. It was published in "Neurosurgery," a top neurosurgery journal, and was also featured as a headline story on January 30, 2026, on the official website of the "Focused Ultrasound Foundation," the most representative international organization in the global focused ultrasound field.
Wei Kuo-chen explained at today's press conference on the research findings that glioblastoma is the most challenging among malignant brain tumors, characterized by rapid growth and quick disease progression. Common symptoms include headaches, personality changes, limb weakness, nausea, vomiting, and epilepsy.
Regarding the growth pattern of malignant gliomas, Wei Kuo-chen explained that they grow and invade by adhering closely to normal nerve cells and adjacent glial cells. Therefore, complete surgical removal is difficult, and residual tumor cells are inevitable. Even after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, more than half of patients experience recurrence within 6 months, with an average survival period of only 14 to 16 months.
One of the bottlenecks in glioblastoma treatment, Wei Kuo-chen said, is the brain's unique "blood-brain barrier." While it protects the brain from toxins, it also makes it difficult for most drugs to enter the tumor, significantly reducing treatment efficacy.
To overcome this challenge, Chang Gung Hospital's neurosurgical clinical team developed "navigation-guided focused ultrasound technology." This technology can penetrate the skull without surgery, precisely delivering low-intensity ultrasound energy to the brain tumor location, temporarily and safely opening the blood-brain barrier to help drugs smoothly enter the tumor tissue. After drug delivery is complete, the blood-brain barrier automatically closes, restoring its brain-protective function.
Wei Kuo-chen pointed out that clinical trials began enrolling patients in 2021, with a total of 6 patients with recurrent glioblastoma participating. They received focused ultrasound treatment once every two weeks, combined with the conventional anti-cancer drug Avastin (Bevacizumab). The trial results showed that most patients experienced only transient scalp warmth, with no severe side effects; furthermore, patients' "progression-free survival" was 1.5 times that of traditional treatment.
The research team also found a significant increase in circulating tumor DNA in patients' blood after treatment, indicating that focused ultrasound successfully opened the blood-brain barrier, allowing tumor signals previously confined to the brain to flow into the bloodstream. Wei Kuo-chen explained that this means there is an opportunity in the future to track changes in brain tumors through blood tests, marking a significant step forward for non-invasive "liquid biopsy" diagnostic technology.
Wei Kuo-chen stated that Chang Gung Hospital and National Taiwan University Hospital are currently conducting a Phase III multi-center clinical trial, expected to complete patient enrollment and apply for approval in 2027. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150513
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(Central News Agency reporter Tseng Yi-ning, Taipei, 13th) Glioblastoma is difficult to treat. A team from Chang Gung Hospital successfully used "focused ultrasound" to open the long-unbreakable blood-brain barrier, combined with anti-cancer drugs for treatment. The method showed high safety and efficacy 1.5 times that of traditional treatments, with clinical trial results published in an international journal.
This research was led by Professor Wei Kuo-chen of Chang Gung Hospital's Department of Neurosurgery and his brain tumor research team. It was published in "Neurosurgery," a top neurosurgery journal, and was also featured as a headline story on January 30, 2026, on the official website of the "Focused Ultrasound Foundation," the most representative international organization in the global focused ultrasound field.
Wei Kuo-chen explained at today's press conference on the research findings that glioblastoma is the most challenging among malignant brain tumors, characterized by rapid growth and quick disease progression. Common symptoms include headaches, personality changes, limb weakness, nausea, vomiting, and epilepsy.
Regarding the growth pattern of malignant gliomas, Wei Kuo-chen explained that they grow and invade by adhering closely to normal nerve cells and adjacent glial cells. Therefore, complete surgical removal is difficult, and residual tumor cells are inevitable. Even after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, more than half of patients experience recurrence within 6 months, with an average survival period of only 14 to 16 months.
One of the bottlenecks in glioblastoma treatment, Wei Kuo-chen said, is the brain's unique "blood-brain barrier." While it protects the brain from toxins, it also makes it difficult for most drugs to enter the tumor, significantly reducing treatment efficacy.
To overcome this challenge, Chang Gung Hospital's neurosurgical clinical team developed "navigation-guided focused ultrasound technology." This technology can penetrate the skull without surgery, precisely delivering low-intensity ultrasound energy to the brain tumor location, temporarily and safely opening the blood-brain barrier to help drugs smoothly enter the tumor tissue. After drug delivery is complete, the blood-brain barrier automatically closes, restoring its brain-protective function.
Wei Kuo-chen pointed out that clinical trials began enrolling patients in 2021, with a total of 6 patients with recurrent glioblastoma participating. They received focused ultrasound treatment once every two weeks, combined with the conventional anti-cancer drug Avastin (Bevacizumab). The trial results showed that most patients experienced only transient scalp warmth, with no severe side effects; furthermore, patients' "progression-free survival" was 1.5 times that of traditional treatment.
The research team also found a significant increase in circulating tumor DNA in patients' blood after treatment, indicating that focused ultrasound successfully opened the blood-brain barrier, allowing tumor signals previously confined to the brain to flow into the bloodstream. Wei Kuo-chen explained that this means there is an opportunity in the future to track changes in brain tumors through blood tests, marking a significant step forward for non-invasive "liquid biopsy" diagnostic technology.
Wei Kuo-chen stated that Chang Gung Hospital and National Taiwan University Hospital are currently conducting a Phase III multi-center clinical trial, expected to complete patient enrollment and apply for approval in 2027. (Edited by Li Heng-shan) 1150513
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force for protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and audio-visual content on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.