Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology
The temperature-independent effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been controversial for decades. Here, we critically analyze the available literature on non-thermal effects of radiofrequency (RF) and microwave EMF. We present a literature review of preclinical and clinical data on non-therma...
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doaj-9119e2ed7db54dfdb61383be4f49c5362021-05-06T15:44:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Hyperthermia0265-67361464-51572021-01-0138171573110.1080/02656736.2021.19143541914354Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncologyPeter Wust0Ulrike Stein1Pirus Ghadjar2Department of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinExperimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and Max-Delbrück-Centrum (MDC)Department of Radiation Oncology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu BerlinThe temperature-independent effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been controversial for decades. Here, we critically analyze the available literature on non-thermal effects of radiofrequency (RF) and microwave EMF. We present a literature review of preclinical and clinical data on non-thermal antiproliferative effects of various EMF applications, including conventional RF hyperthermia (HT, cRF-HT). Further, we suggest and evaluate plausible biophysical and electrophysiological models to decipher non-thermal antiproliferative membrane effects. Available preclinical and clinical data provide sufficient evidence for the existence of non-thermal antiproliferative effects of exposure to cRF-HT, and in particular, amplitude modulated (AM)-RF-HT. In our model, transmembrane ion channels function like RF rectifiers and low-pass filters. cRF-HT induces ion fluxes and AM-RF-HT additionally promotes membrane vibrations at specific resonance frequencies, which explains the non-thermal antiproliferative membrane effects via ion disequilibrium (especially of Ca2+) and/or resonances causing membrane depolarization, the opening of certain (especially Ca2+) channels, or even hole formation. AM-RF-HT may be tumor-specific owing to cancer-specific ion channels and because, with increasing malignancy, membrane elasticity parameters may differ from that in normal tissues. Published literature suggests that non-thermal antiproliferative effects of cRF-HT are likely to exist and could present a high potential to improve future treatments in oncology.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02656736.2021.1914354non-thermal effectselectromagnetic fieldsradiofrequencyamplitude modulationhyperthermia |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Peter Wust Ulrike Stein Pirus Ghadjar |
spellingShingle |
Peter Wust Ulrike Stein Pirus Ghadjar Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology International Journal of Hyperthermia non-thermal effects electromagnetic fields radiofrequency amplitude modulation hyperthermia |
author_facet |
Peter Wust Ulrike Stein Pirus Ghadjar |
author_sort |
Peter Wust |
title |
Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology |
title_short |
Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology |
title_full |
Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology |
title_fullStr |
Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology |
title_full_unstemmed |
Non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology |
title_sort |
non-thermal membrane effects of electromagnetic fields and therapeutic applications in oncology |
publisher |
Taylor & Francis Group |
series |
International Journal of Hyperthermia |
issn |
0265-6736 1464-5157 |
publishDate |
2021-01-01 |
description |
The temperature-independent effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) have been controversial for decades. Here, we critically analyze the available literature on non-thermal effects of radiofrequency (RF) and microwave EMF. We present a literature review of preclinical and clinical data on non-thermal antiproliferative effects of various EMF applications, including conventional RF hyperthermia (HT, cRF-HT). Further, we suggest and evaluate plausible biophysical and electrophysiological models to decipher non-thermal antiproliferative membrane effects. Available preclinical and clinical data provide sufficient evidence for the existence of non-thermal antiproliferative effects of exposure to cRF-HT, and in particular, amplitude modulated (AM)-RF-HT. In our model, transmembrane ion channels function like RF rectifiers and low-pass filters. cRF-HT induces ion fluxes and AM-RF-HT additionally promotes membrane vibrations at specific resonance frequencies, which explains the non-thermal antiproliferative membrane effects via ion disequilibrium (especially of Ca2+) and/or resonances causing membrane depolarization, the opening of certain (especially Ca2+) channels, or even hole formation. AM-RF-HT may be tumor-specific owing to cancer-specific ion channels and because, with increasing malignancy, membrane elasticity parameters may differ from that in normal tissues. Published literature suggests that non-thermal antiproliferative effects of cRF-HT are likely to exist and could present a high potential to improve future treatments in oncology. |
topic |
non-thermal effects electromagnetic fields radiofrequency amplitude modulation hyperthermia |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02656736.2021.1914354 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT peterwust nonthermalmembraneeffectsofelectromagneticfieldsandtherapeuticapplicationsinoncology AT ulrikestein nonthermalmembraneeffectsofelectromagneticfieldsandtherapeuticapplicationsinoncology AT pirusghadjar nonthermalmembraneeffectsofelectromagneticfieldsandtherapeuticapplicationsinoncology |
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1721456630357295104 |