About Us News Items Histotripsy for Kidney Cancer Available at Saint John’s and a Unique Biomarker Study

Jennifer Linehan MD - Robotics Urology Program

A Breakthrough Treatment for Kidney Cancer Patients

Histotripsy, a groundbreaking, noninvasive therapy that uses focused ultrasound to destroy tumors from outside the body, is now available for the treatment of kidney cancer at Saint John’s Health Center. Previously approved for liver tumors, this innovative procedure offers patients a precise and incision-free treatment option that maximizes kidney preservation, minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue, and reduces recovery time as an outpatient procedure.

More Options for Kidney Cancer Patients

Jennifer Linehan MD - Histotripsy for Kidney Cancer
Dr. Jennifer Linehan spotlights histotripsy for kidney cancer and a new transformational study exclusive to Saint John’s.
Leading this advancement in urology is Jennifer Linehan, MD, Associate Professor of Urology and Urologic Oncology and Director of Urology Translational Research. “Histotripsy represents a new frontier in kidney cancer treatment,” she explains. “It provides us with the ability to target tumors with great accuracy, potentially offering patients an alternative to surgery or other more invasive therapies.” Doctor Linehan also describes additional solutions for renal cell carcinoma, including active surveillance, microwave ablation, cryotherapy, and surgery, in her interview.

In addition to pioneering new treatment approaches, Dr. Linehan and her team are driving innovation in early detection through the Renal Cell Carcinoma Biomarker Study—a clinical research effort that focuses on identifying kidney cancer through a simple urine test. This liquid biopsy approach uses cutting-edge microRNA molecular science to detect renal cell carcinoma, aiming to establish a national standard for biomarker testing and early diagnosis.

 

Histotripsy for Kidney Cancer

Dr. Jennifer Linehan explains the benefits of histotripsy for kidney cancer patients, offers a unique study for renal cell carcinoma detection.

Together, the introduction of histotripsy for kidney cancer and the development of advanced biomarker testing highlight Saint John’s Cancer Institute’s leadership in translational medicine—turning scientific discoveries into real-world solutions for patients. Patients and referring physicians interested in histotripsy or the biomarker study are encouraged to learn more and consider an evaluation at Saint John’s.

“Early detection is critical in improving outcomes for kidney cancer. Through this study, we hope to change the way kidney cancer is found and treated—making diagnosis faster, less invasive, and more accurate.”

– Dr. Jennifer Linehan

Learn more about how histotripsy works:
Histotripsy and Care at Saint John’s Heath Center (Video, 9:10)

Lean more about Renal Cell Carcinoma:
Kidney Cancer: Symptoms, Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Stages, and Treatment