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Updated: Aug 5, 2025
The Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields Therapy in Glioblastoma
Published on: April 16, 2019
Therapeutic potential of tumor treating fields for malignant brain tumors
Youyou Zhou1,2,3, Xiaoqing Xing1,2,3, Jinyun Zhou1,2,3
1Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
Background:
Malignant brain tumors are among the most threatening diseases of the central nervous system, and despite increasingly updated treatments, the prognosis has not been improved. Tumor treating fields (TTFields) are an emerging approach in cancer treatment using intermediate-frequency and low-intensity electric field and can lead to the development of novel therapeutic options.
Recent Findings:
A series of biological processes induced by TTFields to exert anti-cancer effects have been identified. Recent studies have shown that TTFields can alter the bioelectrical state of macromolecules and organelles involved in cancer biology. Massive alterations in cancer cell proteomics and transcriptomics caused by TTFields were related to cell biological processes as well as multiple organelle structures and activities. This review addresses the mechanisms of TTFields and recent advances in the application of TTFields therapy in malignant brain tumors, especially in glioblastoma (GBM).
Conclusions:
As a novel therapeutic strategy, TTFields have shown promising results in many clinical trials, especially in GBM, and continue to evolve. A growing number of patients with malignant brain tumors are being enrolled in ongoing clinical studies demonstrating that TTFields-based combination therapies can improve treatment outcomes.
Insights
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) offer a novel approach to combat malignant brain tumors, including glioblastoma. This therapy utilizes electric fields to disrupt cancer cell processes, showing promising results in clinical studies and combination treatments.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biophysics
- Neuro-oncology
Background:
- Malignant brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), present significant treatment challenges with poor prognoses.
- Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) represent an emerging therapeutic modality using intermediate-frequency, low-intensity electric fields.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the mechanisms of action for TTFields in cancer treatment.
- To summarize recent advancements in TTFields therapy for malignant brain tumors, with a focus on GBM.
Main Methods:
- The review synthesizes findings from recent studies on TTFields.
- It examines the impact of TTFields on cellular and molecular processes, including proteomics and transcriptomics.
- The review also considers alterations in organelle structure and function induced by TTFields.
Main Results:
- TTFields induce various biological processes that exhibit anti-cancer effects.
- TTFields alter the bioelectrical state of macromolecules and organelles crucial to cancer cell biology.
- Significant changes in cancer cell proteomics and transcriptomics are observed, affecting cellular processes and organelle activities.
Conclusions:
- TTFields have demonstrated promising outcomes in clinical trials, especially for GBM.
- Ongoing clinical studies are exploring TTFields-based combination therapies for malignant brain tumors.
- This evolving therapeutic strategy holds potential for improving patient treatment outcomes.
