Selective destabilization of tumor cells with pulsed electric and magnetic sequences: a preliminary report

Abstract

Background: Various studies in vitro suggest that low electric and magnetic fields may modify cancer cell growth and recent studies in vivo have revealed anti-tumoral effects. After screening different tumor cell lines, we identified specific sequences of localized magnetic and electric fields (MESQ) that reduce cancer cell survival in vitro. This finding led us to design an experiment to determine the actual efficacy of above sequences in selectively destabilizing tumor cells and their effect on healthy cells.

Materials and Methods: We exposed the MCF7 cancer cell line and normal fibroblasts to MESQ for 1, 2, 3 and 6 hours, evaluating cell survival and induction of apoptosis.

Results: Exposure to MESQ reduced MCF7 survival, inducing apoptosis in a timedependent way, whereas fibroblasts were completely unaffected.

Conclusion: These results have promising implications for the treatment of cancer and warrant further research.

Keywords::

• Cancer cell
• electric and magnetic field
• apoptosis
• proliferation
• mitosis

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by University of Siena and the I.M.O. Centre (Interuniversity Centre for the Study of Biophysical and Biochemical Interactions between Molecules and Organisms). The authors would like to thank Barbara Nocivelli and Provita srl for their support in the realization of this study.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.