Study type: Medical/biological study (experimental study)

Cytostatic response of NB69 cells to weak pulse-modulated 2.2 GHz radar-like signals med./bio.

By: Trillo MA, Cid MA, Martinez MA, Page JE, Esteban J, Ubeda A
Published in: Bioelectromagnetics 2011; 32 (5): 340-350
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Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the response of two human cancer cell lines to a 24 h exposure to a 2.2 GHz pulse modulated radar-like signal.

Endpoint

Exposure

Exposure Parameters
Exposure 1: 2.2 GHz
Modulation type: pulsed
Exposure duration: continuous for 24 h
  • power: 28 W
  • SAR: 1.65 W/kg spatial average (1.16 W/kg - 2.25 W/kg in the dishes)
  • SAR: 0.023 W/kg (space- and time-averaged value)

Exposure 1

Main characteristics
Frequency 2.2 GHz
Type
Exposure duration continuous for 24 h
Modulation
Modulation type pulsed
Pulse width 5 µs
Repetition frequency 100 Hz
Exposure setup
Exposure source
Setup double-shelf Teflon dish holder with eight 35 mm Petri dishes placed inside the 500 mm long 95 mm x 45 mm waveguide; waveguide with lateral copper hinged section, closed by a slotted short circuit and equipped with a fan; waveguide placed inside a CO2 incubator
Sham exposure A sham exposure was conducted.
Parameters
Measurand Value Type Method Mass Remarks
power 28 W - - - -
SAR 1.65 W/kg spatial average calculated - 1.16 W/kg - 2.25 W/kg in the dishes
SAR 0.023 W/kg - calculated - space- and time-averaged value

Reference articles

  • Varela JE et al. (2010): Design, implementation, and dosimetry analysis of an S-band waveguide in vitro system for the exposure of cell culture samples to pulsed fields

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

Investigated system:
Time of investigation:
  • after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

The radiofrequency exposure induced a consistent, statistically significant reduction in the cell number (13.5 % below controls) in the neuroblastoma NB69 cell line. This effect was accompanied with slight but statistically significant increases in the proportions of cells in phases G0 phase/G1 phase and G2 phase/mitosis phase of the cell cycle (6% and 9%, respectively). By contrast, the hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 did not respond to the same radiofrequency exposure.
These data indicate that the pulse modulated radiofrequency exposure can induce cytostatic responses on specific, sensitive cancer cell lines. The effect would be mediated, at least in part, by alterations in the kinetics of the cell cycle.

Study character:

Study funded by

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