Literature review: potential non-thermal molecular effects of external radiofrequency electromagnetic fields on cancer
Abstract
Overview
There is an ongoing scientific discussion about anti-cancer effects of radiofrequency (RF) hyperthermia, which suggests that effects are not solely due to temperature elevations at the tumor site but also to non-temperature-induced effects. The molecular mechanisms behind these potential non-thermal RF effects remain largely elusive, limiting their therapeutic targetability.
Objective
The aim is to provide an overview of the current literature on potential non-temperature-induced molecular effects within cancer cells in response to RF-electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF).
Material and Methods
- Conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
- MeSH-term-defined literature search on MEDLINE (PubMed) and Scopus (Elsevier) conducted on March 23rd, 2024.
- Focused on the continuous wave RF-EMF nature (3 kHz - 300 GHz) of the source, temperature-controlled circumstances within the trials, and the preclinical nature of the trials.
Findings
Analysis of the data processed in this review suggests that RF-EMF radiation of various frequencies seems to be able to induce significant non-temperature-induced anti-cancer effects. These effects include mitotic arrest, growth inhibition, cancer cell death through autophagy and apoptosis, mostly exclusive to cancer cells. Identified mechanisms include RF-EMF-induced ion channel activation, altered gene expression, altered membrane potentials, membrane oscillations, and blebbing, as well as changes in cytoskeletal structure and cell morphology.
Conclusion
The literature suggests a significant untapped therapeutic potential of RF-EMF treatment in cancer cells using bio-electrical and electro-mechanical molecular mechanisms while minimizing adverse effects on healthy tissue. Further research is imperative to definitively confirm non-thermal EMF effects and determine optimal cancer-type-specific RF-EMF frequencies, field intensities, and exposure intervals.