Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Cause Non-Temperature-Induced Physical and Biological Effects in Cancer Cells
P. Wust1, P.D. Veltsista1, E. Oberacker1, P. Yavvari2, W. Walther3,4,5, O. Bengtsson6, A. Sterner-Kock7, M. Weinhart2,8, F. Heyd9, P. Grabowski10, S. Stintzing10, W. Heinrich6, U. Stein3,4,5 and P. Ghadjar1
Published in:
Cancers, vol. 14, no. 21, art. 5349, doi:10.3390/cancers14215349 (2022).
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.
1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
2 Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 3, 14195 Berlin, Germany
3 Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Germany and Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology (EPO), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
4 Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, AG Translational Oncology of Solid Tumors, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
5 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
6 Ferdinand-Braun-Institut gGmbH, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Gustav-Kirchhoff-Str. 4, 12489 Berlin, Germany
7 Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology GmbH Berlin-Buch, Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
8 Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Callinstr. 3A, 30167 Hannover, Germany
9 Laboratory of RNA Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Takustr. 6, 14195 Berlin, Germany
10 Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology (CCM), Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Keywords:
radiofrequency; amplitude modulation; hyperthermia; colorectal cancer; anticancer effects
Copyright: © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
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