Scientists at Dundee University have discovered a way to use military technology to destroy cancer cells.

It is hoped that the treatment could eventually make chemotherapy a thing of the past.

And, the ground-breaking “sniper treatment” could be available to patients in as little as five years.

The Dundee scientists have revealed in published research that they have found a way to kill cancer cells by using a single blast of ultrasound.

The technique was discovered using photographic techniques developed by the army and it is hoped that it could lead to the end of invasive surgery and extensive drug treatment for cancer sufferers.

Previous research had discovered that gas bubbles cluster round cancer cells if injected intravenously.

Scientists at Dundee University then found that, if these bubbles are stimulated by a short burst of high intensity ultrasound energy, they puncture the cancer cells and kill them.

The research has been led by Dr Paul Campbell, from the university, and Professor Sir Alfred Cuschieri at the Department of Surgery and Molecular Oncology at Ninewells Hospital.

These techniques were made possible by using an imaging system that can take photographs at one million frames per second.

This had originally been developed by the army to observe the impact of ballistic shells and bullets with armour plates.

Dr Campbell said, “Conventional cancer treatment usually requires surgery to cut out the diseased tissues, causing significant trauma, pain and discomfort to the patient,

“It can also delay recovery for many months.

“This new ultrasound treatment can focus energy directly to a tumour site inside the body and deliver a single blast of energy without harming the surrounding tissue.”

“It is a sniper treatment for cancer.”

The gas bubbles injected into the cancer patient can be coated with anti-cancer drugs that then enter the punctured cancer cells.

Once hit by the ultrasound, the gas bubbles expand like balloons before the shell of the bubble deforms and develops a fast moving spike that is directed back into the cancerous cell.

When the spike hits this it punches through it like a bullet and creates a tiny “entrance wound”, which allows the passage of molecules, including the cancer treating drugs, directly into the cells.

“For low ultrasound intensities, the membranes appear to be able to reseal themselves soon afterwards, effectively locking any drug molecules inside,” said Dr Campbell.

“On the other hand, for higher intensity levels of ultrasound, the damage may be so severe that the cancer cells can be killed outright.”

This research is the culmination of a three-year project funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, but Dr Campbell believes that more funding is needed to ensure the full benefits of the treatment are realised.

“The benefits are clear—no incisions, no scars, no trauma and a much-reduced chance of MRSA infection,” he said.

“This approach could represent the future of surgery and we certainly have the drive and indeed expertise to see this through given the opportunity.

“Not only will this benefit patients but the NHS as a whole by reducing the cost in the long-term of treating cancer patients.”