Evaluation of the effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on the viability of human gastric cancer (AGS) cell line

Introduction & Objectives: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth common cancer, and the second deadliest cancer in the world. There are many environmental and genetic factors involved in the promotion and progression of GC. One of the important environmental factors associated with cancer is extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF). Epidemiological studies have suggested extremely low-frequency EMF (ELF-EMF) can increase the risk of developing cancer, such as leukemia, breast, and brain cancers. ELF-EMF can also affect on the Cellular and molecular processes. In this studywe , investigated the effects of ELF-EMF on the cell viability of gastric cancer cell lines (AGS).Materials & Methods: Gastric cancer cell line (AGS) was obtained from Iran Genetic Resources Center.AGS cells were cultured under the exposure of 0.2 and 2 mT EMF during the one doubling time of cells continuously and discontinuously. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay method at the end of incubation. Cell viability in each group of the experiment was compared with control cell lines.Results: Results indicated that the cell viability of AGS cells was decreased to 10% and 56% when exposed to 0.2 and 2 mT EMFs continuously, in comparison to the control group. The cell viability of AGS cells also decreases to 4% and 49% under the exposure of 0.2 and 2 mT EMFs discontinuously.Conclusion: The results of the investigation indicated the exposure of AGS cell line to ELF-EMF could increase cell death, and this effect is dependent on the intensity of ELF-EMF and time and type of exposure. This issue could be considered in a comprehensive study to reduce cancer progression.

کلیدواژه ها:

Electromagnetic field ، cell viability ، AGS cell line