"Tumor Treating Fields" Delivered Via Electromagnetic Induction Have Varied Effects Across Glioma Cell Lines and Electric Field Amplitudes

Overview

Journal Am J Cancer Res

Specialty Oncology

Date 2024 Mar 8

PMID 38455403

Authors

Rea Ravin

Teddy X Cai

Aiguo Li

Nicole Briceno

Randall H Pursley

Marcial Garmendia-Cedillos

Tom Pohida

Herui Wang

Zhengping Zhuang

Jing Cui

Nicole Y Morgan

Nathan H Williamson

Mark R Gilbert

Peter J Basser

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Previous studies reported that alternating electric fields (EFs) in the intermediate frequency (100-300 kHz) and low intensity (1-3 V/cm) regime - termed "Tumor Treating Fields" (TTFields) - have a specific, anti-proliferative effect on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells. However, the mechanism(s) of action remain(s) incompletely understood, hindering the clinical adoption of treatments based on TTFields. To advance the study of such treatment , we developed an inductive device to deliver EFs to cell cultures which improves thermal and osmolar regulation compared to prior devices. Using this inductive device, we applied continuous, 200 kHz electromagnetic fields (EMFs) with a radial EF amplitude profile spanning 0-6.5 V/cm to cultures of primary rat astrocytes and several human GBM cell lines - U87, U118, GSC827, and GSC923 - for a duration of 72 hours. Cell density was assessed via segmented pixel densities from GFP expression (U87, U118) or from staining (astrocytes, GSC827, GSC923). Further RNA-Seq analyses were performed on GSC827 and GSC923 cells. Treated cultures of all cell lines exhibited little to no change in proliferation at lower EF amplitudes (0-3 V/cm). At higher amplitudes (> 4 V/cm), different effects were observed. Apparent cell densities increased (U87), decreased (GSC827, GSC923), or showed little change (U118, astrocytes). RNA-Seq analyses on treated and untreated GSC827 and GSC923 cells revealed differentially expressed gene sets of interest, such as those related to cell cycle control. Up- and down-regulation, however, was not consistent across cell lines nor EF amplitudes. Our results indicate no consistent, anti-proliferative effect of 200 kHz EMFs across GBM cell lines and thus contradict previous findings. Rather, effects varied across different cell lines and EF amplitude regimes, highlighting the need to assess the effect(s) of TTFields and similar treatments on a per cell line basis.

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