LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Lubbock man diagnosed with liver cancer is now cancer-free thanks to an incisionless, non-invasive technology recently introduced to West Texas.
Juan Cruz is the first patient in Lubbock to undergo histotripsy using the Edison System at University Medical Center. The cutting-edge treatment landed at UMC through its partnership with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s Rural Cancer Collaborative.
Approved by the FDA in 2023, histotripsy destroys liver cancer cells without surgery, incisions, needles, or radiation. The device delivers focused, high-frequency ultrasound to form microscopic bubbles within an active tumor, liquefying and eradicating the diseased tissue while sparing surrounding structures.
For Cruz, whose tumor location raised concerns about damaging nearby blood vessels, the procedure offered a critical alternative to traditional surgery and reduced the need for chemotherapy.
“I lounged around the first day, but after that I was good,” Cruz said.
Shortly after the outpatient procedure, Cruz received the news he had been praying for.
“That night after I got out, he texted me on his personal phone,” Cruz said. “We’re going to look over it more, but as of right now, you’re officially cancer-free.”
His surgical oncologist, Dr. Tyler Mouw, is one of only two physicians in Lubbock trained to perform the procedure, alongside Dr. Edwin Onkendi.
“Patients can go home the same day,” Mouw said. “Usually, there’s very little in the way of side effects, and patients typically do very well with it.”
Prior to UMC acquiring the technology, Austin was the only other place in Texas where histotripsy was available. Having access in Lubbock spares regional cancer patients extensive travel during treatment.
While the Edison System is currently FDA-approved solely for liver tumors, device manufacturer HistoSonics is seeking regulatory approval within the next year to expand its use to kidney and prostate cancers.
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