Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Cause Non-Temperature-Induced Physical and Biological Effects in Cancer Cells

authored by

Peter Wust, Paraskevi D Veltsista, Eva Oberacker, Prabhusrinivas Yavvari, Wolfgang Walther, Olof Bengtsson, Anja Sterner-Kock, Marie Weinhart, Florian Heyd, Patricia Grabowski, Sebastian Stintzing, Wolfgang Heinrich, Ulrike Stein, Pirus Ghadjar

Abstract

Non-temperature-induced effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF) have been controversial for decades. Here, we established measurement techniques to prove their existence by investigating energy deposition in tumor cells under RF exposure and upon adding amplitude modulation (AM) (AMRF). Using a preclinical device LabEHY-200 with a novel in vitro applicator, we analyzed the power deposition and system parameters for five human colorectal cancer cell lines and measured the apoptosis rates in vitro and tumor growth inhibition in vivo in comparison to water bath heating. We showed enhanced anticancer effects of RF and AMRF in vitro and in vivo and verified the non-temperature-induced origin of the effects. Furthermore, apoptotic enhancement by AM was correlated with cell membrane stiffness. Our findings not only provide a strategy to significantly enhance non-temperature-induced anticancer cell effects in vitro and in vivo but also provide a perspective for a potentially more effective tumor therapy.

Organisation(s)

Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry

External Organisation(s)

Ferdinand-Braun-Institut gGmbH, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH)
Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology Berlin-Buch
Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin (FU Berlin)
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association
German Cancer Consortium (DKTK)

Type

Article

Journal

Cancers

Volume

14

ISSN

2072-6694

Publication date

30.10.2022

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Oncology, Cancer Research

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14215349 (Access: Open)