Pulsed electromagnetic therapy slows tumor growth in rodents

Researchers in a new study led by the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center used a mouse model of colorectal cancer and observed that this type of non-invasive treatment slowed its growth and increased survival without detectable adverse effects.

A research team from the Severo Ochoa Molecular Biology Center has demonstrated that the application of multifrequency electromagnetic pulses can slow tumor growth and stimulate the immune response against cancer in preclinical models.

This latest work opens a new avenue for developing non-invasive cancer treatments based on physical principles rather than chemical or pharmacological ones.

The technology studied, developed by Paso Alto Group, after more than fifteen years of research in the field of applied biophysics and medical bioengineering, uses very low frequency and high intensity electromagnetic fields applied externally to the organism.

Unlike many current therapies, it does not require surgical procedures or the administration of drugs, and seeks to take advantage of certain biophysical characteristics of tumor cells in order to selectively alter their function.

“The results show that it is possible to act on the tumor using a completely different approach to conventional strategies and to do so without detecting adverse effects in the treated animals,” explains the CBM researcher. Yolanda Revilla, lead author of the study.

Smaller size and greater survival

To evaluate the effectiveness of this technology, researchers used a mouse model of colorectal cancer that retains a functional immune system. Animals treated with electromagnetic pulses showed a consistent reduction in tumor growth and greater survival compared to untreated animals.

One of the most relevant findings was the modification of the so-called tumor microenvironmentThe ecosystem formed by immune cells, blood vessels, and other components surrounding the cancer and influencing its growth. Efficacy depended on factors such as the intensity and the frequency of treatment application. Earlier and more intensive protocols offered the best results by achieving superior tumor control.

“This work represents an important step because it demonstrates for the first time in a whole organism that this technology can exert relevant antitumor activity,” he notes. José María Almendral, researcher at the CBM and author of the study.

Tumor survival is difficult to achieve

The analyses revealed that the treated tumors exhibited extensive areas of necrosis, a form of cell death associated with irreversible damage. Furthermore, the researchers detected signs of oxidative stress and damage to the DNA of tumor cells.

Oxidative stress occurs when oxidative stress accumulates molecules highly reactive molecules capable of damaging essential cell components. When this damage exceeds the cell's repair capacity, cancer cells can lose their viability and die.

The authors propose that the electromagnetic pulses They trigger several simultaneous mechanisms that, together, hinder the survival of the tumor.

The researchers observed a significant increase in macrophages within the treated tumors. These cells are part of the immune system's first line of defense and are able to detect, engulf, and eliminate damaged or abnormal cells.

According to the authors, this result suggests that the therapy could promote a form of cell death visible to the immune system while also making it easier for the body's natural defenses to better recognize the tumor.

“The data indicate that we are not only observing a direct effect on cancer cells. There also appears to be a reprogramming of the tumor environment which promotes the immune response,” he explains Konstantinos Stamatakis, researcher at the CBM and lead author of the work.

Evidence of immune memory

In some animals, researchers observed a particularly striking effect: the complete disappearance of the tumor. Furthermore, these animals showed resistance when subsequently exposed to tumor cells again, an observation that points to the possible generation of antitumor immune memory.

Although this result was detected only in a small number of animals and will need to be confirmed in larger studies, it opens the possibility that this type of treatment not only eliminates existing tumors, but also helps prevent their recurrence.

The authors emphasize that this is a preclinical research And that numerous parameters will still need to be optimized before considering its use in patients. Among other aspects, it will be necessary to understand in greater detail the biological mechanisms involved and validate the results in new experimental models.

Even so, the study positions multifrequency electromagnetic pulses as a promising emerging therapeutic platform. Researchers are already exploring its applications. possible combination ccurrent immunotherapies to enhance the antitumor response and overcome resistance mechanisms that limit the effectiveness of some treatments.

Source: SINC Agency