Abstract

Overview

Purpose of the study was to assess the potential effects of radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF) used in cell phones on the aggressiveness of glioblastomas, a type of brain tumor, in Wistar rats.

Methods

• Grafted C6 cell male rats were exposed to GSM 900 MHz signal at three different brain averaged specific absorption rates (BASAR): 0, 0.25, or 0.5 W/kg.
• Exposures were conducted 5 days a week, 45 minutes per day in restraint, except for cage controls which had no restraint.
• Post-mortem, tumor volume, mitotic index, vascularization, necrosis, and cell division were analyzed alongside immunohistochemistry measures for vascularization, apoptosis, and cellular divisions.

Findings

Results indicated no significant effect of BASAR on the rats' survival, tumor volume, mitotic index, vascularization, infiltration, necrosis, or cell division. However, there was a BASAR-dependent reduction in immune cell invasion and apoptosis of glioblastoma cells.

Conclusion

Although there was a reduction in immune cell invasion and cell apoptosis, the amplitude of RF-EMF was likely too low to impact overall survival. Additional replication studies are suggested to confirm these findings.