TY - JOUR

T1 - Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields Cause Non-Temperature-Induced Physical and Biological Effects in Cancer Cells

AU - Wust, Peter

AU - Veltsista, Paraskevi D

AU - Oberacker, Eva

AU - Yavvari, Prabhusrinivas

AU - Walther, Wolfgang

AU - Bengtsson, Olof

AU - Sterner-Kock, Anja

AU - Weinhart, Marie

AU - Heyd, Florian

AU - Grabowski, Patricia

AU - Stintzing, Sebastian

AU - Heinrich, Wolfgang

AU - Stein, Ulrike

AU - Ghadjar, Pirus

N1 - Funding Information: This research was funded by the Berliner Krebsgesellschaft e.V., grant number GHFF202006, www.berliner-krebsgesellschaft.de. This project was supported by the H2020 Marie Sklodowska–Curie program—HYPERBOOST (project number 955625).

PY - 2022/10/30

Y1 - 2022/10/30

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - amplitude modulation

KW - anticancer effects

KW - colorectal cancer

KW - hyperthermia

KW - radiofrequency

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141873280&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/cancers14215349

DO - 10.3390/cancers14215349

M3 - Article

C2 - 36358768

VL - 14

JO - Cancers

JF - Cancers

SN - 2072-6694

IS - 21

M1 - 5349

ER -