Journal Article

Alternative magnetic field exposure suppresses tumor growth via metabolic reprogramming

Nagasako, Akane, Kishi, Kazuhito, Yamada, Shigeki, Nakakaji, Rina, Umemura, Masanari, Yamamoto, Tetsuya, Ohtake, Makoto, Hasumi, Hisashi, Yamaguchi, Takashi, Islam, Md Rafikul, Akimoto, Taisuke, Ishikawa, Yoshihiro

2024

Overview

Application of physical forces, ranging from ultrasound to electric fields, is recommended in various clinical practice guidelines, including those for treating cancers and bone fractures. However, the mechanistic details of such treatments are often inadequately understood, primarily due to the absence of comprehensive study models. In this study, we demonstrate that an alternating magnetic field (AMF) inherently possesses a direct anti‐cancer effect by enhancing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and thereby inducing metabolic reprogramming. We observed that the proliferation of human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells (U87 and LN229) was inhibited upon exposure to AMF within a specific narrow frequency range, including around 227 kHz. In contrast, this exposure did not affect normal human astrocytes (NHA). Additionally, in mouse models implanted with human GBM cells in the brain, daily exposure to AMF for 30 min over 21 days significantly suppressed tumor growth and prolonged overall survival. This effect was associated with heightened reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) expression. The anti‐cancer efficacy of AMF was diminished by either a mitochondrial complex IV inhibitor or a ROS scavenger. Along with these observations, there was a decrease in the extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) and an increase in the oxygen consumption rate (OCR). This suggests that AMF‐induced metabolic reprogramming occurs in GBM cells but not in normal cells. Our results suggest that AMF exposure may offer a straightforward strategy to inhibit cancer cell growth by leveraging oxidative stress through metabolic reprogramming. We demonstrate that an alternating magnetic field (AMF) inherently possesses a direct anti‐cancer effect by enhancing oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and thereby inducing metabolic reprogramming.

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subject: Acidification / alternating magnetic field (AMF) / Animal models / Animals / Astrocytes / Astrocytes - metabolism / Bone growth / Brain cancer / Brain Neoplasms - metabolism / Brain Neoplasms - pathology / Brain research / Brain tumors / Breast cancer / Cancer / Cancer therapies / Cell culture / Cell cycle / Cell growth / Cell Line, Tumor / Cell Proliferation / Fractures / Glioblastoma / Glioblastoma - metabolism / Glioblastoma - pathology / glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) / Humans / Magnetic Field Therapy - methods / Magnetic Fields / Manganese / Medical prognosis / Medical research / metabolic reprogramming / Metabolic Reprogramming - radiation effects / Metabolism / Mice / mitochondria / Mitochondria - metabolism / Oxidative Phosphorylation / oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) / Oxidative stress / Oxygen Consumption / Phosphorylation / Radiation therapy / Reactive oxygen species / reactive oxygen species (ROS) / Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism / Superoxide Dismutase - metabolism / Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays