💻 Neuroimplant To Treat Brain Cancer

Glioblastoma is considered one of the most aggressive tumors. People with this diagnosis live for about 14 months on average.

The standard treatment protocol comes down to three principles: "cut it out" with surgery, "burn it" with radiation therapy, and "poison it" with chemotherapy. But glioblastoma grows deep into brain tissue, making it almost impossible to remove every cancer cell. To monitor recurrence, patients usually get an MRI every three months—enough time for the tumor to start growing again.

Startup Coherence Neuro wants to add a fourth layer to treatment: electrotherapy. The company has developed SOMA-1, a miniature neural interface that can be implanted in the skull during surgery to remove the tumor.

The AI-guided implant is designed to track the brain's electrical activity continuously and, when it detects suspicious patterns that may signal tumor growth, deliver targeted electrical pulses. The goal is to suppress cancer cell proliferation and weaken the tumor's connections with healthy neurons.

🔍 The idea of controlling glioblastoma with electricity is already being used in practice. Since 2011, the FDA-approved Optune system has been used in the U.S. But patients have to wear a cap-like array of electrodes almost around the clock, powered by a heavy battery pack. SOMA-1 could make this approach more precise and less burdensome for patients. The first human clinical trials of SOMA-1 are expected to begin in 1.5-2 years.

💡 The implant's creators hope to repeat the success of HIV therapy: turning a fatal diagnosis into a chronic condition people can live with for decades.

@hiaimediaen