Functionality of natural killer cells from end-stage cancer patients exposed to coherent electromagnetic fields

Immunity and electromagnetic fields

Despite many studies, the question about the positive or negative influence of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on living organisms still remains an unresolved issue. To date, the results are inconsistent and hardly comparable between different laboratories. The observed bio-effects are dependent not only on the applied EMF itself, but on many other factors such as the model system tested or environmental ones. In an organism, the role of the defense system against external stressors is played by the immune system consisting of various cell types. The immune cells are engaged in many physiological processes and responsible for the proper functioning of the whole organism. Any factor with an ability to cause immunomodulatory effects may weaken or enhance the response of the immune system. This review is focused on a wide range electromagnetic fields as a possible external factor which may modulate the innate and/or adaptive immunity. Considering the existing databases, we have compiled the bio-effects evoked by EMF in particular immune cell types involved in different types of immune response with the common mechanistic models and mostly activated intracellular signaling cascade pathways.

A Review on Chitosan's Uses as Biomaterial: Tissue Engineering, Drug Delivery Systems and Cancer Treatment

Chitosan, derived from chitin, is a biopolymer consisting of arbitrarily distributed β-(1-4)-linked D-glucosamine and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine that exhibits outstanding properties- biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, antibacterial activity, the capacity to form films, and chelating of metal ions. Most of these peculiar properties are attributed to the presence of free protonable amino groups along the chitosan backbone, which also gives it solubility in acidic conditions. Moreover, this biopolymer can also be physically modified, thereby presenting a variety of forms to be developed. Consequently, this polysaccharide is used in various fields, such as tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, and cancer treatment. In this sense, this review aims to gather the state-of-the-art concerning this polysaccharide when used as a biomaterial, providing information about its characteristics, chemical modifications, and applications. We present the most relevant and new information about this polysaccharide-based biomaterial's applications in distinct fields and also the ability of chitosan and its various derivatives to selectively permeate through the cancer cell membranes and exhibit anticancer activity, and the possibility of adding several therapeutic metal ions as a strategy to improve the therapeutic potential of this polymer.

Antitumor effects of the electromagnetic resonant frequencies derived from the 1H NMR spectrum of Ph3Sn(Mercaptonicotinic)SnPh3 complex

The aim of this article is to investigate the potential cytotoxic and antitumor effects of the resonant electromagnetic fields (rEMFs) derived from the ¹H NMR spectrum of the Ph₃Sn(Mercaptonicotinic)SnPh₃ complex (SnMNA). The ability of the complex's rEMFs to induce leiomyosarcoma (LMS) cell death and to recess tumor (leiomyosarcoma) development in Wistar rats was evaluated. The effects of the simultaneous administration of the SnMNA complex at extremely low concentrations and exposure to its rEMFs was also investigated. The emission of the ¹H NMR spectrum of the complex alone or in a combination with low ineffective doses of the complex decreased LMS cell viability mainly through apoptosis. Moreover, the results from the in vivo experiments showed a significant prolongation of life expectancy in tumor-bearing rats exposed to the rEMFs alongside a deceleration in tumor growth rate. We speculate that the rEMFs of a biologically active substance could exert similar biological effects as the substance itself, mainly when is combined with extremely low ineffective concentrations of the substance.

A review on the use of magnetic fields and ultrasound for non-invasive cancer treatment

Current popular cancer treatment options, include tumor surgery, chemotherapy, and hormonal treatment. These treatments are often associated with some inherent limitations. For instances, tumor surgery is not effective in mitigating metastases; the anticancer drugs used for chemotherapy can quickly spread throughout the body and is ineffective in killing metastatic cancer cells. Therefore, several drug delivery systems (DDS) have been developed to target tumor cells, and release active biomolecule at specific site to eliminate the side effects of anticancer drugs. However, common challenges of DDS used for cancer treatment, include poor site-specific accumulation, difficulties in entering the tumor microenvironment, poor metastases and treatment efficiency. In this context, non-invasive cancer treatment approaches, with or without DDS, involving the use of light, heat, magnetic field, electrical field and ultrasound appears to be very attractive. These approaches can potentially improve treatment efficiency, reduce recovery time, eliminate infections and scar formation. In this review we focus on the effects of magnetic fields and ultrasound on cancer cells and their application for cancer treatment in the presence of drugs or DDS.

Mechanisms and therapeutic effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in oncology

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Available treatments are associated with numerous side effects and only a low percentage of patients achieve complete remission. Therefore, there is a strong need for new therapeutic strategies. In this regard, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy presents several potential advantages including non-invasiveness, safety, lack of toxicity for non-cancerous cells, and the possibility of being combined with other available therapies. Indeed, PEMF stimulation has already been used in the context of various cancer types including skin, breast, prostate, hepatocellular, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, bladder, thyroid, and colon cancer in vitro and in vivo. At present, only limited application of PEMF in cancer has been documented in humans. In this article, we review the experimental and clinical evidence of PEMF therapy discussing future perspectives in its use in oncology.

Cellular neoplastic transformation induced by 916 MHz microwave radiation

There has been growing concern about the possibility of adverse health effects resulting from exposure to microwave radiations, such as those emitted by mobile phones. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cellular neoplastic transformation effects of electromagnetic fields. 916 MHz continuous microwave was employed in our study to simulate the electromagnetic radiation of mobile phone. NIH/3T3 cells were adopted in our experiment due to their sensitivity to carcinogen or cancer promoter in environment. They were divided randomly into one control group and three microwave groups. The three microwave groups were exposed to 916 MHz EMF for 2 h per day with power density of 10, 50, and 90 w/m(2), respectively, in which 10 w/m(2) was close to intensity near the antenna of mobile phone. The morphology and proliferation of NIH/3T3 cells were examined and furthermore soft agar culture and animal carcinogenesis assay were carried out to determine the neoplastic promotion. Our experiments showed NIH/3T3 cells changed in morphology and proliferation after 5-8 weeks exposure and formed clone in soft agar culture after another 3-4 weeks depending on the exposure intensity. In the animal carcinogenesis study, lumps developed on the back of SCID mice after being inoculated into exposed NIH/3T3 cells for more than 4 weeks. The results indicate that microwave radiation can promote neoplastic transformation of NIH/3T3cells.