Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41773179›Full record

ReviewNeuro-oncology advances

Focused ultrasound-enhanced cell therapy for brain tumors: Summary of roundtable discussions.

Frederic Padilla, Costas Arvanitis, Catherine M Bollard, Marco Gallus, John De Groot, Robyn S Klein, Richard M Ransohoff, Adam M Sonabend, Hideho Okada

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Neuro-oncology advances. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Frederic PadillaFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2452-9497
Costas ArvanitisFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).
Catherine M BollardFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).
Marco GallusFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).
John De GrootFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1454-6461
Robyn S KleinFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).
Richard M RansohoffFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).
Adam M SonabendFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).
Hideho OkadaFocused Ultrasound Foundation, Charlottesville, VA, USA (F.P.); Georgia Institute of Technology, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Atlanta, GA, USA (C.A.); Department of Pediatrics, Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Hospital, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA (C.M.B.); Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Fracisco, San Francisco, CA, USA (M.G., J.D.G., H.O.); Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, USA (R.S.K.); Third Rock Ventures, Boston, MA, USA (R.M.R.); Department of Neurological Surgery, Malnati Brain Tumor Institute, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA (A.M.S.).ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0076-9920

Funding

Preclinical development of breakthrough immunotherapy for brain tumorsR35NS142982 · NINDS · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Hideho Okada · 2026 to 2026
$943k
NINDS NIH HHS R35 NS142982
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Cell-based immunotherapies have emerged as promising strategies for brain tumors, offering the potential for targeted and durable antitumor responses. However, their efficacy has been limited by challenges unique to the central nervous system, including suboptimal delivery routes and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that impairs cell function. Focused ultrasound (FUS) is a noninvasive technology that, when combined with intravenously administered microbubbles, can transiently and reversibly increase blood-brain barrier permeability. FUS has improved drug delivery to brain tumors in clinical trials and offers compelling opportunities to enhance trafficking, activation, and control of therapeutic cells. Despite this potential, critical questions remain regarding the timing and sequencing of FUS with cell therapies, the impact of FUS on the tumor and neuroimmune microenvironments, strategies to mitigate acute and delayed toxicities, and methods to tune potency to maximize tumor specificity while minimizing bystander tissue injury. To address these challenges, the Focused Ultrasound Foundation convened a multidisciplinary roundtable in March 2025. Experts in neuro-oncology, neuroimmunology, cell therapy, neurosurgery, and FUS participated. Discussions focused on cell delivery routes, pharmacokinetics and blood-brain barrier opening, tumor microenvironment and CNS inflammation, FUS-induced immune modulation, clinical trial design, and approaches to safety monitoring and cell control. In this review, we summarize the discussions and key messages from the roundtable, which may serve as a foundation for advancing FUS-enhanced cell therapy for brain tumors in a collaborative manner.

Indexed as

brain tumorcell therapyfocused ultrasound

Identifiers

PMID41773179
PMCPMC12950283

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.