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Investigating the expression changes of several key genes in prostate cancer cells under exposure to the ELF pulsed electromagnetic fields.

Scientific reports · 2025 · Benefit · Low evidence

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BenefitLow evidencePaper 5876

Increasing ELF P-EMF intensity from 22.6 to 35 mT and increasing exposure duration significantly increased cancer cell mortality. ELF P-EMF exposure induced apoptosis and was associated with increased PTEN and BAX expression, reduced MIR-21 expression, and so…

Study snapshot

PublicationScientific reports · 2025
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

One of the less invasive methods in cancer treatment is the use of Extremely Low-Frequency Pulsed-Electromagnetic Fields (ELF P-EMF). In this study, after culturing and proliferating DU-145 prostate cancer cells, they were exposed to ELF P-EMF with different intensities and times. Then, the cells' viability was examined by applying the MTT test, and their level of apoptosis/ necrosis was analyzed using a flow cytometry test. Then, for the studied groups, RNA extraction steps were performed, and cDNA was subsequently synthesized. Finally, using Real-time PCR, the expression levels of key genes such as PTEN, BAX, BCL-2, and MIR-21 in the targeted cancer cells were examined, and statistically, the significance of their expression differences with the control group was measured using SPSS software. The results indicated that by increasing the ELF P-EMF intensity from 22.6 to 35 mT and the duration of exposure, the mortality rate of cancer cells increased significantly. In addition, exposing cells of this line to ELF P-EMF could induce apoptosis in these cells. Also, applying fields with intensities of 22.6 and 35 mT led to a significant increase in the expression of the tumor suppressor gene PTEN and an increase in the expression of the apoptosis-inducing gene BAX. In addition, applying the field significantly reduced the expression of the oncogene MIR-21 and, to some extent, reduced the expression of the BCL-2 gene, which blocks apoptosis.

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 directionbenefit
PopulationDU-145 prostate cancer cells
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureELF · different intensities and times (duration not specified)
Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Increasing ELF P-EMF intensity from 22.6 to 35 mT and increasing exposure duration significantly increased cancer cell mortality. ELF P-EMF exposure induced apoptosis and was associated with increased PTEN and BAX expression, reduced MIR-21 expression, and some reduction in BCL-2 expression versus control.

Outcomes measured

  • Cell viability (MTT)
  • Apoptosis/necrosis (flow cytometry)
  • Gene expression (RT-PCR): PTEN
  • Gene expression (RT-PCR): BAX
  • Gene expression (RT-PCR): BCL-2
  • Gene expression (RT-PCR): MIR-21

Limitations

  • In vitro study in a single prostate cancer cell line (DU-145)
  • Exposure frequency and waveform details not reported in abstract
  • Exposure durations and number of experimental replicates/sample size not reported in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "pulsed electromagnetic fields (ELF P-EMF)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "different intensities and times (duration not specified)"
  },
  "population": "DU-145 prostate cancer cells",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell viability (MTT)",
    "Apoptosis/necrosis (flow cytometry)",
    "Gene expression (RT-PCR): PTEN",
    "Gene expression (RT-PCR): BAX",
    "Gene expression (RT-PCR): BCL-2",
    "Gene expression (RT-PCR): MIR-21"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Increasing ELF P-EMF intensity from 22.6 to 35 mT and increasing exposure duration significantly increased cancer cell mortality. ELF P-EMF exposure induced apoptosis and was associated with increased PTEN and BAX expression, reduced MIR-21 expression, and some reduction in BCL-2 expression versus control.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study in a single prostate cancer cell line (DU-145)",
    "Exposure frequency and waveform details not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure durations and number of experimental replicates/sample size not reported in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF",
    "pulsed electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF P-EMF",
    "prostate cancer",
    "DU-145",
    "MTT",
    "flow cytometry",
    "apoptosis",
    "PTEN",
    "BAX",
    "BCL-2",
    "MIR-21",
    "gene expression",
    "real-time PCR"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study uses extremely low-frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (mT range) in a cell model."
    },
    {
      "slug": "cancer-in-vitro",
      "weight": 0.75,
      "reason": "In vitro prostate cancer cell study assessing viability, apoptosis, and gene expression changes."
    }
  ]
}
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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: 10.1038/s41598-025-20910-0
PubMed: 41145584

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