World first procedure in kidney cancer treatment takes place in Leeds

A world first in cancer treatment has taken place at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Anthony Harris, a 73-year-old from Castleford, West Yorkshire, became the first kidney cancer patient in the world to be treated using a histotripsy platform.
Laura Reid
By Laura Reid
Published 11th Apr 2023, 11:50 BST

The treatment destroys tumours without the need for incisions or needles entering the patient’s body. And following an overnight stay and monitoring in hospital, Mr Harris was able to return home to his family. He said: “One day, I noticed blood in my urine - I contacted my doctor straight away and I had a prostate biopsy in December 2022. This was negative for prostate cancer.

"I was then sent for a CT scan and this showed a growth on my right kidney. The consultant asked me if I would like to take part in a trial of a new treatment for kidney cancer. From the minute I went to see the doctor last December, the ball has moved really fast. I’m hopeful about the outcome and I think this could really benefit other people affected by kidney cancer.”

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The procedure on Mr Harris at St James University Hospital was performed by Professor Tze Min Wah, Professor of Interventional Radiology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. It was the first ever treatment in the HistoSonics sponsored “CAIN” Trial which is designed to evaluate the safety and technical success of the histotripsy system in targeting and destroying renal tumours. Professor Tze Min Wah said the trial “represents a significant milestone for kidney cancer treatment with histotripsy as a needle-less technology".

Related topics:LeedsCastlefordWest YorkshireProfessor