Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer
Introduction There is an ongoing scientific discussion, that anti-cancer effects induced by radiofrequency (RF)-hyperthermia might not be solely attributable to subsequent temperature elevations at the tumor site but also to non-temperature-induced effects. The exact molecular mechanisms behind said...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Hyperthermia |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02656736.2024.2379992 |
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| author | Anna Dieper Stephan Scheidegger Rudolf M. Füchslin Paraskevi D. Veltsista Ulrike Stein Mathias Weyland Dominik Gerster Marcus Beck Olof Bengtsson Daniel Zips Pirus Ghadjar |
| author_facet | Anna Dieper Stephan Scheidegger Rudolf M. Füchslin Paraskevi D. Veltsista Ulrike Stein Mathias Weyland Dominik Gerster Marcus Beck Olof Bengtsson Daniel Zips Pirus Ghadjar |
| author_sort | Anna Dieper |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction There is an ongoing scientific discussion, that anti-cancer effects induced by radiofrequency (RF)-hyperthermia might not be solely attributable to subsequent temperature elevations at the tumor site but also to non-temperature-induced effects. The exact molecular mechanisms behind said potential non-thermal RF effects remain largely elusive, however, limiting their therapeutical targetability.Objective Therefore, we aim to provide an overview of the current literature on potential non-temperature-induced molecular effects within cancer cells in response to RF-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).Material and Methods This literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. For this purpose, a MeSH-term-defined literature search on MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scopus (Elsevier) was conducted on March 23rd, 2024. Essential criteria herein included the continuous wave RF-EMF nature (3 kHz − 300 GHz) of the source, the securing of temperature-controlled circumstances within the trials, and the preclinical nature of the trials.Results Analysis of the data processed in this review suggests that RF-EMF radiation of various frequencies seems to be able to induce significant non-temperature-induced anti-cancer effects. These effects span from mitotic arrest and growth inhibition to cancer cell death in the form of autophagy and apoptosis and appear to be mostly exclusive to cancer cells. Several cellular mechanisms were identified through which RF-EMF radiation potentially imposes its anti-cancer effects. Among those, by reviewing the included publications, we identified RF-EMF-induced ion channel activation, altered gene expression, altered membrane potentials, membrane oscillations, and blebbing, as well as changes in cytoskeletal structure and cell morphology.Conclusion The existent literature points toward a yet untapped therapeutic potential of RF-EMF treatment, which might aid in damaging cancer cells through bio-electrical and electro-mechanical molecular mechanisms while minimizing adverse effects on healthy tissue cells. Further research is imperative to definitively confirm non-thermal EMF effects as well as to determine optimal cancer-type-specific RF-EMF frequencies, field intensities, and exposure intervals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-58cc78d743874a9b8b6347ea6a177a34 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0265-6736 1464-5157 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Hyperthermia |
| spelling | doaj-art-58cc78d743874a9b8b6347ea6a177a342025-01-03T09:30:27ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Hyperthermia0265-67361464-51572024-12-0141110.1080/02656736.2024.2379992Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancerAnna Dieper0Stephan Scheidegger1Rudolf M. Füchslin2Paraskevi D. Veltsista3Ulrike Stein4Mathias Weyland5Dominik Gerster6Marcus Beck7Olof Bengtsson8Daniel Zips9Pirus Ghadjar10Department of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyInstitute for Applied Mathematics and Physics, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, SwitzerlandInstitute for Applied Mathematics and Physics, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, SwitzerlandDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyExperimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max-Delbrück-Centrum (MDC), Berlin, GermanyInstitute for Applied Mathematics and Physics, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Winterthur, SwitzerlandDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyFerdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH), Leibnitz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyIntroduction There is an ongoing scientific discussion, that anti-cancer effects induced by radiofrequency (RF)-hyperthermia might not be solely attributable to subsequent temperature elevations at the tumor site but also to non-temperature-induced effects. The exact molecular mechanisms behind said potential non-thermal RF effects remain largely elusive, however, limiting their therapeutical targetability.Objective Therefore, we aim to provide an overview of the current literature on potential non-temperature-induced molecular effects within cancer cells in response to RF-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).Material and Methods This literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. For this purpose, a MeSH-term-defined literature search on MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scopus (Elsevier) was conducted on March 23rd, 2024. Essential criteria herein included the continuous wave RF-EMF nature (3 kHz − 300 GHz) of the source, the securing of temperature-controlled circumstances within the trials, and the preclinical nature of the trials.Results Analysis of the data processed in this review suggests that RF-EMF radiation of various frequencies seems to be able to induce significant non-temperature-induced anti-cancer effects. These effects span from mitotic arrest and growth inhibition to cancer cell death in the form of autophagy and apoptosis and appear to be mostly exclusive to cancer cells. Several cellular mechanisms were identified through which RF-EMF radiation potentially imposes its anti-cancer effects. Among those, by reviewing the included publications, we identified RF-EMF-induced ion channel activation, altered gene expression, altered membrane potentials, membrane oscillations, and blebbing, as well as changes in cytoskeletal structure and cell morphology.Conclusion The existent literature points toward a yet untapped therapeutic potential of RF-EMF treatment, which might aid in damaging cancer cells through bio-electrical and electro-mechanical molecular mechanisms while minimizing adverse effects on healthy tissue cells. Further research is imperative to definitively confirm non-thermal EMF effects as well as to determine optimal cancer-type-specific RF-EMF frequencies, field intensities, and exposure intervals.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02656736.2024.2379992Radiofrequencyhyperthermiaelectromagnetic fieldscancertherapy |
| spellingShingle | Anna Dieper Stephan Scheidegger Rudolf M. Füchslin Paraskevi D. Veltsista Ulrike Stein Mathias Weyland Dominik Gerster Marcus Beck Olof Bengtsson Daniel Zips Pirus Ghadjar Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer International Journal of Hyperthermia Radiofrequency hyperthermia electromagnetic fields cancer therapy |
| title | Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer |
| title_full | Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer |
| title_fullStr | Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer |
| title_short | Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer |
| title_sort | literature review potential non thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer |
| topic | Radiofrequency hyperthermia electromagnetic fields cancer therapy |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02656736.2024.2379992 |
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