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Updated: May 23, 2026
Determining the Optimal Inhibitory Frequency for Cancerous Cells Using Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields)
Published on: May 4, 2017
Growth inhibition of malignant melanoma by intermediate frequency alternating electric fields, and the underlying
1Department of Oncology, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Liuzhou, China.
Objective:
This study investigated the antitumour effects of intermediate frequency alternating electric fields (IF-AEF) in a murine melanoma cell line (B16F10) and a mouse tumour model.
Methods:
IF-AEF was applied at 100 kHz. Proliferation of B16F10 cells in vitro was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. IF-AEF was applied in vivo to mice bearing B16F10 tumours. Terminal deoxy nucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) assay for apoptosis, and immunohistochemical detection of CD34 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were performed.
Results:
IF-AEF inhibited the proliferation of B16F10 cells in an electrical intensity and time-dependent manner. Treatment with IF-AEF for 7 days significantly inhibited the growth of tumours compared with untreated controls. IF-AEF induced apoptosis in vivo and reduced CD34-positive cell numbers; CD34 is a special marker of microvessel density.
Conclusion:
IF-AEF reduced microvessel density related to tumour growth and may serve as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
