Electricity Can Slow the Progression of Certain Cancers

[Edit]

New research in the August Issue of Physics Today explains how low-intensity electric fields can disrupt the division of cancer cells and slow the growth of brain tumors. The team of researchers used alternating electric fields that shift electric particles in cells back and forth hundreds of thousands of times per second. These low-intensity alternating electric fields were once thought to only heat cells but after several years of experiments, the researchers have shown the fields to disrupt cell division in tumor cells placed on a glass dish.

After studying the effect of electricity in vitro and in labratory animals, the researchers began a small human clinical trial. The technique was applied to ten patients with glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain cancer with a low survival rate.

The researchers fitted the patients with electrodes that applied 200 kHz electric fields to the scalp at regular intervals for up to 18 hours a day. The cancer was observed to be progressing to advanced stages at a much slower rate (a median of 26 weeks) and in some cases even regressed. Typical time for tumor progression is 10 weeks and 3 of the 10 patients were still alive two years after the electrode therapy started.

 Electric field therapy is found to have two effects on tumor cells. First, it slows down cell division by disrupting the formation and function of a key cell structure known as the mitotic spindle. Second, the electric field can sometimes cause the daughter cells to self destruct by forcing structures and molecules away from its infrastructure before the cell splits away from its partner.

Electrode therapy poses little danger to normal brain tissue, because healthy brain cells do not divide. Researchers are now investigating the possibilities of combining electric fields with low-dose chemotherapy.


Disclaimer

Featured Doctors

Cancer Treatment Options Chicago, IL

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
2520 Elisha Avenue
Zion, Illinois 60099

Call: 800-310-4403

Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Westchester

Dr. Helen Pass, M.D.
Helen Pass, M.D.

Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: 888-468-9351

Cancer Treatment Center Goodyear, Arizona

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
14200 W. Fillmore Street
Goodyear, Arizona 85338

Call: 800-434-4215

Find a Radiation Oncologist -Westchester

Dr. Lucia Boselli
Lucia Boselli

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

Uterine Cancer Demographics Tulsa, Oklahoma

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street & Highway 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Call: 800-310-4403

Treatment for Cancer Chicago, Illinois

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
2520 Elisha Avenue
Zion, Illinois 60099

Call: 800-310-4403

PET Scan/ Lung Cancer (Bronx)

Dr. Lucia Boselli
Lucia Boselli

The Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

Cancer Treatment Center West Virginia

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street & Highway 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Call: 800-310-4403

Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY

 Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center

Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: (888) 544-1169

Breast Cancer Chemotherapy Westchester

Dr. Helen Pass, M.D.
Helen Pass, M.D.

Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: 888-468-9351

Find a Radiation Oncologist -Westchester

Dr. Lucia Boselli
Lucia Boselli

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

Esophageal Cancer Prognosis Tulsa, Oklahoma

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street & Highway 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Call: 800-310-4403

Cancer Specialists Milwaukee, Wisconsin

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street & Highway 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Call: 800-310-4403

Cancer Treatment Center Alaska

Best Cance Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street & Highway 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Call: 800-310-4403

Neuro Oncology Westchester & Rockland

Dr. Bennie Chiles III
Bennie Chiles III

Westchester Spine & Brain Surgery, PLLC
280 N. Central Ave Suite 235
Hartsdale, NY 10530

Call: (888) 281-4568

Cancer Treatment Centers of America Chicago, Illinois

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
2520 Elisha Avenue
Zion, Illinois 60099

Call: 800-310-4403

Breast Cancer Centers Phoenix, Arizona

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
14200 W. Fillmore Street
Goodyear, Arizona 85338

Call: 800-310-4403

Chemotherapy Bronx

Dr Fabio Volterra
Fabio Volterra

Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

PET Scan/ Lung Cancer (Bronx)

Dr. Lucia Boselli
Lucia Boselli

The Eastchester Center for Cancer Care
2330 Eastchester Road
Bronx, NY 10469

Call: (888) 860-7136

Skin Sparing Mastectomy Bronxville, Westchester County, New York

 The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital
The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital

Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: 888-468-9351

Skin Cancer Treatment Manhattan

  Westchester Oncology & Hematology Group
Westchester Oncology & Hematology Group

Westchester Oncology & Hematology Group
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532

Call: 888-370-4284

Cancer Clinic Tulsa, Oklahoma

 Cancer Treatment Centers of America
Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America
10109 E. 79th Street (81st Street & Highway 169)
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74133

Call: 800-310-4403

Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY

 Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center

Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: (888) 544-1169

Skin Sparing Mastectomy Bronxville, Westchester County, New York

 The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital
The Columbia University Comprehensive Breast Center at Lawrence Hospital

Center for Advanced Surgery
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: 888-468-9351

Colon Cancer Westchester, NY

Dr. Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.
Tauseef Ahmed, M.D.

Westchester Oncology & Hematology
19 Bradhurst Avenue
Hawthorne, NY 10532

Call: 888-370-4284

Mammogram Center - Mammography Center Westchester, NY

 Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center
Radiology & Diagnostic Imaging | Women's Imaging Center

Lawrence Hospital Center | Outpatient Services
55 Palmer Avenue, First Floor
Bronxville, NY 10708

Call: (888) 544-1169