Medical/biological study (experimental study)

X-ray-induced apoptosis of BEL-7402 cell line enhanced by extremely low frequency electromagnetic field in vitro med./bio.

By: Jian W, Wei Z, Zhiqiang C, Zheng F

Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2009; 30 (2): 163-165

The healing effect of radiotherapy in cancer treatment relies on the radiosensitivity of target cancer cells. Finding a non invasive method to sensitize liver cancer cells to low doses of X-ray irradiation is of great importance.
Two groups were first exposed to 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 Gy of X-ray and then two times to electromagnetic fields and sham exposure.
In a second experiment (only 2 Gy), it was tested whether more electromagnetic field exposures (6x vs. 2x) could contribute to higher apoptosis rates.

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 100 Hz Exposure duration: up to six times 30 min with a 12 h interval	magnetic flux density: 0.7 mT mean

Frequency	100 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	up to six times 30 min with a 12 h interval

Exposure source	solenoid
Setup	15 cm x 20 cm solenoid; 5 cm x 5 cm flasks with cells placed inside the solenoid
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	0.7 mT	mean	-	-	-

Exposed system:

Investigated system:

Time of investigation:

Two periods of electromagnetic field exposures following X-ray irradiation significantly increased the apoptosis rates of cells compared to those subjected to X-ray irradiation alone, with highest effects at doses of 4 and 6 Gy.
Six periods of electromagnetic field exposure significantly increased the apoptosis rate compared to fewer exposures (two times) when combined with 2 Gy X-ray irradiation.
Repetitive electromagnetic field exposure may increase the apoptotic effects when combined with low doses of X-ray.

Study character:

Delle Monache S et al. (2013): Inhibition of angiogenesis mediated by extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs)
Wen J et al. (2011): The effect of 100 Hz magnetic field combined with X-ray on hepatoma-implanted mice
Koh EK et al. (2008): A 60-Hz sinusoidal magnetic field induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells through reactive oxygen species
Markkanen A et al. (2008): Pre-exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields modifies menadione-induced DNA damage response in murine L929 cells
Scarfi MR et al. (2005): Evaluation of genotoxic effects in human fibroblasts after intermittent exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields: a confirmatory study
Tian F et al. (2002): Exposure to Power Frequency Magnetic Fields Suppresses X-Ray-Induced Apoptosis Transiently in Ku80-Deficient xrs5 Cells
Tofani S et al. (2001): Static and ELF magnetic fields induce tumor growth inhibition and apoptosis
Ding GR et al. (2001): Transient suppression of X-ray-induced apoptosis by exposure to power frequency magnetic fields in MCF-7 cells
Heikkinen P et al. (2001): Effects of mobile phone radiation on X-ray-induced tumorigenesis in mice