Systems and methods for targeting specific cell types by selective application of ultrasonic harmonic excitation at their resonance frequency (“oncotripsy”) are presented. The systems and methods result in the lysis of targeted cell types by using ultrasonic harmonic excitations that have been specifically tuned to disrupt the nuclear membrane of the targeted cells types by inducing a destructive vibrational response therein while leaving non-targeted cell types intact. The target cells types may be cancerous cells.