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Inhibition of Cancer Cell Migration and Glycolysis by Terahertz Wave Modulation via Altered Chromatin Accessibility
Lan Sun1,2, Yangmei Li1, Yun Yu1
1Innovation Laboratory of Terahertz Biophysics, National Innovation Institute of Defense Technology, Beijing 100071 China.
Abstract:
Metastasis and metabolic disorders contribute to most cancer deaths and are potential drug targets in cancer treatment. However, corresponding drugs inevitably induce myeloid suppression and gastrointestinal toxicity. Here, we report a nonpharmaceutical and noninvasive electromagnetic intervention technique that exhibited long-term inhibition of cancer cells. Firstly, we revealed that optical radiation at the specific wavelength of 3.6 μm (i.e., 83 THz) significantly increased binding affinity between DNA and histone via molecular dynamics simulations, providing a theoretical possibility for THz modulation- (THM-) based cancer cell intervention. Subsequent cell functional assays demonstrated that low-power 3.6 μm THz wave could successfully inhibit cancer cell migration by 50% and reduce glycolysis by 60%. Then, mRNA sequencing and assays for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) indicated that low-power THM at 3.6 μm suppressed the genes associated with glycolysis and migration by reducing the chromatin accessibility of certain gene loci. Furthermore, THM at 3.6 μm on HCT-116 cancer cells reduced the liver metastasis by 60% in a metastatic xenograft mouse model by splenic injection, successfully validated the inhibition of cancer cell migration by THM in vivo. Together, this work provides a new paradigm for electromagnetic irradiation-induced epigenetic changes and represents a theoretical basis for possible innovative therapeutic applications of THM as the future of cancer treatments.
Insights
This study introduces a non-invasive electromagnetic technique using 3.6 μm terahertz waves to inhibit cancer cell migration and glycolysis. This novel approach offers a potential new avenue for cancer treatment by modulating epigenetic changes.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cancer Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Metastasis and metabolic disorders are leading causes of cancer mortality.
- Current cancer drugs often cause significant side effects like myeloid suppression and gastrointestinal toxicity.
- There is a need for novel, non-pharmaceutical cancer treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of terahertz modulation (THM) as a non-invasive method for cancer cell intervention.
- To explore the underlying epigenetic mechanisms of THM in cancer cells.
- To validate the efficacy of THM in inhibiting cancer cell migration and metastasis in vivo.
Main Methods:
- Molecular dynamics simulations to assess DNA-histone binding affinity.
- Cell functional assays to measure cancer cell migration and glycolysis.
- mRNA sequencing and ATAC-seq to analyze gene expression and chromatin accessibility.
- In vivo experiments using a metastatic xenograft mouse model.
Main Results:
- Optical radiation at 3.6 μm (83 THz) increased DNA-histone binding affinity.
- Low-power 3.6 μm THz wave inhibited cancer cell migration by 50% and reduced glycolysis by 60%.
- THM suppressed genes related to glycolysis and migration by altering chromatin accessibility.
- In vivo, THM reduced liver metastasis by 60% in a mouse model.
Conclusions:
- 3.6 μm THz wave irradiation can effectively inhibit cancer cell migration, glycolysis, and metastasis.
- THM induces epigenetic changes by modulating chromatin accessibility, providing a theoretical basis for its anti-cancer effects.
- This non-invasive electromagnetic intervention technique presents a promising new paradigm for cancer therapy.
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