Medical student explores new noninvasive treatment for oral tumors

Treating tumors in the oral cavity can be especially challenging for both patients and physicians.

Traditional surgical approaches often require removing tissue that can affect speech, eating, or appearance, outcomes that may significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. Dana Wang, a member of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) Class of 2026, explored whether a new ultrasound-based technology could offer a less invasive alternative.

“Histotripsy is basically a noninvasive ultrasound technology that mechanically breaks down tumors without using heat or radiation,” Wang said. “Our project explored how it could be applied to treat oral tumors.”

The project earned Wang a Letter of Distinction at VTCSOM’s annual Medical Student Research Symposium.

Working with Eli Vlaisavljevich, an associate professor in the Virginia Tech Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, and Joanne Tuohy, an associate professor of surgical oncology at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Wang studied whether histotripsy could effectively destroy tumor cells in oral tumors. The research brought together expertise from medicine, biomedical engineering, and veterinary medicine.

Much of Wang’s computational work was conducted in Roanoke, while experimental work took place in laboratories in Blacksburg through collaboration with Department of Biomedical Engineering.

The team tested the technology using tumor samples from canine patients undergoing standard surgical treatment. Rather than discarding those samples, researchers used them to evaluate whether histotripsy could successfully break down tumor tissue.

“We were able to show that histotripsy can fully ablate the oral tumors within our treatment zone,” Wang said.

Under microscopic analysis, the treated area showed clear evidence that tumor cells had been destroyed.

“You can see the tumor tissue with all the cells, and then in the area we treated, it becomes this homogenized region showing that there are no cells there,” Wang said.

The findings demonstrate that histotripsy may be feasible for treating tumors in delicate anatomical areas such as the oral cavity. Current histotripsy systems are often large, cart-based devices designed to treat deeper organs such as the liver or kidneys.

“Our team is building on earlier work from collaborators to develop a smaller handheld device,” Wang said. “That could potentially expand access and allow treatment in more delicate areas of the body.”

To the team’s knowledge, the project represents the first research exploring the use of histotripsy to treat oral tumors. The work also highlighted the collaborative nature of modern medical research.

“This project really brought together clinicians, engineers, and scientists,” Wang said. “It even extended internationally. I had the chance to meet researchers from around the world who are studying histotripsy and working to advance this technology.”

Wang said participating in that global research community helped her see how scientific discoveries move from the laboratory to clinical care.

“Being involved in that process helped me appreciate how innovation can directly impact treatment options and patient care,” she said.

Wang plans to continue pursuing research alongside clinical care as she begins her residency in ophthalmology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“I really love the intersection of surgery, medicine, and innovation,” she said. “Ophthalmology has that perfect blend for me.”

Receiving a Letter of Distinction, Wang said, reflects the collaborative nature of the research.

“It reflects the time and dedication that went into this work, but also the incredible mentorship and collaboration in our lab,” she said. “I’m especially grateful for my mentors and our research team for their guidance and support.”

VTCSOM Medical Student Research Symposium

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Medical Student Research Symposium will be held March 26, 2026, from noon to 5 p.m. The event highlights student-led research across basic science, clinical research, and community health. Learn more at: https://medicine.vtc.vt.edu/academics/scientist-physician/research-symposium.html