Localised magnetic fields boost chemotherapy uptake in breast cancer treatment

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy enhances absorption of doxorubicin, even at low doses

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a non-invasive supplementary therapy which improves the effectiveness of a chemotherapy.

The application of brief, localised pulses of electromagnetic fields, the team demonstrated a significant increase in the uptake of doxorubicin (DOX) ─ a widely used chemotherapy drug ─ into breast cancer cells, with minimal impact on healthy tissues.

This selective uptake enables more precise targeting of cancerous cells, with the potential to improve outcomes and reduce adverse effects that can be associated with patients in receipt of chemotherapy.

The study was led by Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón, principal investigator at the Institute for Health Innovation & Technology at NUS and is the first to show how pulsed magnetic fields enhance DOX uptake in cancer cells. Additionally, the work showed that this approach could also suppress tumours at lower drug doses.

The research, published in the journal Cancers, builds on the team’s work from 2022, which first revealed that certain types of cancer cells are more vulnerable to magnetic field therapy.

The breast cancer chemotherapy DOX works by binding to DNA components and thereby disrupting cell replication and respiration, in doing so killing off the cancer cells. Despite its efficacy, it is a non-selective drug, which means it also has the potential to damage healthy tissue. Side effects include cardiomyopathy and muscular atrophy.

The study revealed the role of a calcium ion channel known as TRPC1─ often found in aggressive cancers ─ including breast cancer. Magnetic field exposure activates TRPC1, which enhances its ability to facilitate DOX binding with the cancer cells’ DNA.

Experiments compared the effects of the magnetic field therapy on human breast cancer cells and healthy muscle cells. It was found that breast cancer cells took in significantly more DOX when exposed to magnetic pulses, while normal tissues were not targeted as much. A 10-minute exposure to the magnetic field reduced by half the concentration of the chemotherapy required, particularly at low doses of the drug.

By contrast, the muscle cells did not show an increase in cell death in response to the combination therapy indicating greater protection for healthy tissue.

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The team also demonstrated that reducing TRPC1 expression ─ or blocking its activity ─ eliminated this effect, confirming the crucial role of TRPC1 channels in the process.

“Importantly, when we increased the amount of TRPC1, we observed an increase in DOX uptake ─ this means that TRPC1 can be used as a viable therapeutic target for aggressive cancers,” said Mr Viresh Krishnan Sukumar, first author of the paper and a doctoral candidate at the NUS Centre for Cancer Research part of the university’s Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

“What is promising is that this mechanism works [at its] strongest at low drug concentrations, enabling us to target cancer cells more effectively while reducing the burden of chemotherapy on healthy tissues,” added Associate Professor Franco-Obregón.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide.

“The majority of women who undergo chemotherapy experience side effects from treatment, and in some cases, doses of chemotherapy need to be reduced, or in severe cases, stopped prematurely,” said research team member Assistant Professor Joline Lim, Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore.

“Moreover, prolonged exposure to high-dose chemotherapy can also lead to drug resistance. This targeted approach represents an excellent opportunity to potentially improve treatment outcomes while preserving patients’ quality of life,” she said.

By selectively enhancing drug uptake into cancer cells, this method has the potential to reduce the systemic side effects experienced by patients. The study also underscores the role of biomarkers, such as elevated TRPC1 expression, in transforming cancer care by enabling precision-driven treatment options.

For further reading please visit: https://news.nus.edu.sg/boosting-chemotherapy-uptake-in-breast-cancer-treatment/