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Determining the Optimal Inhibitory Frequency for Cancerous Cells Using Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)

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Published on: May 4, 2017

Towards solid tumor treatment by nanosecond pulsed electric fields.

Alex T Esser¹, Kyle C Smith, T R Gowrishankar

¹Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA 02139, USA.

Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment

|August 4, 2009

Summary

Large nanosecond pulsed electric fields ablate solid tumors via supra-electroporation, inducing apoptosis. This non-thermal mechanism involves nanometer-sized pores affecting ion transport, not larger molecules, for effective tumor ablation.

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The Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma

The Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma

Published on: April 16, 2019

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Biomedical Engineering
Oncology

Background:

Solid tumor ablation is a critical challenge in oncology.
Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) offer a drug-free approach for tumor treatment.
Previous studies suggest nsPEFs induce apoptosis, but the precise mechanism requires elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the pore-based mechanisms underlying apoptosis induction by nsPEFs in solid tumors.
To differentiate the effects of nsPEFs from longer irreversible electroporation pulses.
To establish the role of non-thermal electrical interactions in nsPEF-induced cell death.

Main Methods:

Utilized a multicellular system model of irregularly shaped liver cells (100 microm spatial scale).
Employed a multiscale liver tissue model (200 mm spatial scale).
Analyzed pore formation and histograms, tissue conductance, and membrane permeability to ions and molecules.

Main Results:

nsPEFs create nanometer-sized pores in cellular membranes, distinct from longer electroporation pulses.
Increased numbers of nanometer pores lead to higher tissue conductance during nsPEF application.
Membrane permeability is significantly altered for small ions but not for larger molecules.

Conclusions:

The primary mechanism for nsPEF-induced apoptosis in solid tumors is non-thermal, driven by electrical interactions.
Nanometer-sized pores generated by nsPEFs facilitate specific ionic transport, contributing to tumor ablation.
These findings differentiate nsPEF effects from conventional electroporation, highlighting a novel therapeutic modality.