Exposure of mcf-7 breast cancer cells to electromagnetic fields up-regulates the plasminogen activator system.

International journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society · 2009 · Mixed · Very low evidence

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MixedVery low evidencePaper 4959

Study snapshot

PublicationInternational journal of gynecological cancer : official journal of the International Gynecological Cancer Society · 2009

Study typein_vitro

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Effects of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on the incidence of breast cancer (BC) have been proposed by a number of epidemiological studies. The molecular mechanism of the impact of EMFs on cells is not yet clear, although changes in gene expression have been reported in various cellular systems. In this investigation, the interference of low-frequency EMFs with the plasminogen activator system was examined in BC cells.MCF-7 BC cells from 2 different sources were exposed to highly homogeneous 50-Hz EMFs. Changes in gene expression were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.In MCF-7 cells exposed to 1.2 microT EMF expression of the urokinase plasminogen activator gene and of plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1 was markedly increased. The expression of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator was only marginally increased in 1 of the 2 tested cell lines and expression of the tissue plasminogen activator was at least slightly down-regulated in BC cells exposed to EMFs.EMFs may be able to increase the metastatic potential of breast tumors. The use of our newly established exposure system for EMFs may allow us to study the signaling processes involved in the induction of a metastatic phenotype of breast cancer cells.

Machine Enhanced Logic

AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro

Effect directionmixed

PopulationMCF-7 breast cancer cells (two different sources)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.05 MHz

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

MCF-7 cells exposed to a highly homogeneous 50-Hz EMF at 1.2 microT showed markedly increased expression of the urokinase plasminogen activator gene and plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1. Expression of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator was only marginally increased in one of two tested cell lines, and tissue plasminogen activator expression was at least slightly down-regulated in EMF-exposed cells.

Outcomes measured

Gene expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)
Gene expression of plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)
Gene expression of receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPAR)
Gene expression of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)

Limitations

In vitro study in a breast cancer cell line; clinical relevance not established in the abstract
Exposure duration not reported in the abstract
Sample size/number of replicates not reported in the abstract
Only two MCF-7 sources/cell lines tested; some outcomes differed between them

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": 0.05,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "MCF-7 breast cancer cells (two different sources)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Gene expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA)",
    "Gene expression of plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1)",
    "Gene expression of receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator (uPAR)",
    "Gene expression of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "MCF-7 cells exposed to a highly homogeneous 50-Hz EMF at 1.2 microT showed markedly increased expression of the urokinase plasminogen activator gene and plasminogen-activator inhibitor-1. Expression of the receptor for urokinase plasminogen activator was only marginally increased in one of two tested cell lines, and tissue plasminogen activator expression was at least slightly down-regulated in EMF-exposed cells.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study in a breast cancer cell line; clinical relevance not established in the abstract",
    "Exposure duration not reported in the abstract",
    "Sample size/number of replicates not reported in the abstract",
    "Only two MCF-7 sources/cell lines tested; some outcomes differed between them"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "1.2 microT",
    "MCF-7",
    "breast cancer cells",
    "plasminogen activator system",
    "uPA",
    "PAI-1",
    "uPAR",
    "tPA",
    "gene expression",
    "RT-PCR"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1111/igc.0b013e31819f53ec
PubMed: 19407555

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