An Overview of Biological Effects and Clinical Application of Tumor Treating Fields in Oncology

Introduction: Cancer is a group of diseases including abnormal cell proliferation with the potential to spread to other parts of the body. It is one of the most important reasons for deaths and it is increased dramatically. Many treatment options for cancer exist that they are used depends on the type, location, and grade of cancer. Unfortunately, most of them are very invasive that even many of patients receiving treatment for invasive cancer die from that cancer or its treatment. Thus developing none invasive treatment for cancer is very important.Description: The biologic effects of the electrical field in different tissues are dependent on both the intensity and frequency of the stimulating electric field. Accordingly, Dr. Yorum Palti developed technology to deliver electric fields to tumor cells by applying insulated electrodes. His experiments showed that cell viability was profoundly affected at frequencies between 100 and 250 kHz and also, a narrow peak of cytotoxic effect in all cell types tested between 150 and 200 kHz, but little or no detectable effect below 50 kHz or beyond 500 kHz. Given the cytotoxic effects of these alternate electrical field in this frequency range were referred to as Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields).Discussion and conclusion: TTFields act on rapidly dividing cancer cells by disrupting mitotic spindle during metaphase/anaphase and also by producing nonuniform electric fields in cancer cells affecting intracellular organelles and macromolecules during cytokinesis and causing abnormal chromosomal segregation and multinucleation (telophase) affecting further replication of daughter cells. It can be used as a powerful none invasive treatment method for cancer treatment.

کلیدواژه ها:

Oncology ، Tumor Treating Fields ، none invasive ، cancer