Treatment of glioblastoma with tumor-specific amplitude-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields

Oncotarget · 2025 · Benefit · Very low evidence

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BenefitVery low evidencePaper 5877

Study snapshot

PublicationOncotarget · 2025

Study typeother

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Intrabuccal administration of amplitude-modulated 27.12 MHz radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (AM RF EMF) resulting in the systemic delivery of low and safe levels of AM RF EMF has shown activity in several forms of cancer. METHODS: Glioblastoma (GB) cell lines were exposed to GB-specific AM RF EMF (GBMF) three hours per day at a level of exposure identical to patients during treatment. Cellular assays and agnostic genomic approaches were used to characterize the mechanism-of-action. One patient with therapy refractory GB received compassionate use treatment with GBMF as well as a second patient with refractory oligodendroglioma. RESULTS: Treatment with GBMF inhibited the proliferation of several GB cell lines. CACNA1H mediates the effect of GBMF. GBMF modulates the "Mitotic Roles of Polo-Like Kinase" pathway resulting in the disruption of GB mitotic spindle. There was evidence of clinical and radiological benefit in a 38-year-old patient with recurrent GB and evidence of safety and feasibility in a 47-year-old patient with oligodendroglioma. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report showing antitumor activity, disruption of the mitotic spindle, activation of the Mitotic Roles of Polo-like kinase pathway in GB. This is also the first report showing feasibility and clinical activity in patients with brain tumor.

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 typeother

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationGlioblastoma (GB) cell lines; 1 patient with recurrent therapy-refractory glioblastoma; 1 patient with refractory oligodendroglioma

Sample size2

ExposureRF · 27.12 MHz · 3 hours/day (in vitro exposure); compassionate use in 2 patients (duration not stated)

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

GB-specific amplitude-modulated 27.12 MHz RF EMF exposure inhibited proliferation in several glioblastoma cell lines and was linked to CACNA1H and modulation of the Mitotic Roles of Polo-Like Kinase pathway with mitotic spindle disruption. In compassionate use, there was evidence of clinical and radiological benefit in one recurrent GB patient and evidence of safety and feasibility in one oligodendroglioma patient.

Outcomes measured

Cell proliferation (GB cell lines)
Mechanism of action (CACNA1H mediation)
Pathway modulation (Mitotic Roles of Polo-Like Kinase)
Mitotic spindle disruption
Clinical and radiological benefit (recurrent GB patient)
Safety and feasibility (oligodendroglioma patient)

Limitations

Study includes in vitro experiments and only two compassionate-use patient cases
Clinical component lacks controlled design and detailed exposure/treatment duration information in abstract
Generalisability to broader patient populations is unclear from abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "other",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "intrabuccal administration (systemic delivery)",
    "frequency_mhz": 27.12,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "3 hours/day (in vitro exposure); compassionate use in 2 patients (duration not stated)"
  },
  "population": "Glioblastoma (GB) cell lines; 1 patient with recurrent therapy-refractory glioblastoma; 1 patient with refractory oligodendroglioma",
  "sample_size": 2,
  "outcomes": [
    "Cell proliferation (GB cell lines)",
    "Mechanism of action (CACNA1H mediation)",
    "Pathway modulation (Mitotic Roles of Polo-Like Kinase)",
    "Mitotic spindle disruption",
    "Clinical and radiological benefit (recurrent GB patient)",
    "Safety and feasibility (oligodendroglioma patient)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "GB-specific amplitude-modulated 27.12 MHz RF EMF exposure inhibited proliferation in several glioblastoma cell lines and was linked to CACNA1H and modulation of the Mitotic Roles of Polo-Like Kinase pathway with mitotic spindle disruption. In compassionate use, there was evidence of clinical and radiological benefit in one recurrent GB patient and evidence of safety and feasibility in one oligodendroglioma patient.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Study includes in vitro experiments and only two compassionate-use patient cases",
    "Clinical component lacks controlled design and detailed exposure/treatment duration information in abstract",
    "Generalisability to broader patient populations is unclear from abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "glioblastoma",
    "oligodendroglioma",
    "amplitude-modulated",
    "radiofrequency electromagnetic fields",
    "27.12 MHz",
    "intrabuccal administration",
    "CACNA1H",
    "Polo-like kinase pathway",
    "mitotic spindle",
    "compassionate use"
  ],
  "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: 10.18632/oncotarget.28770
PubMed: 41081453

Read the original paper →

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