Positive Electrostatic Therapy for Metastatic Tumors: Targeted Induction of Apoptosis in Cancer Cells Using Pure Electric Charges (Cancer Medicine)

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34626092/
Authors: Ashkan Zandi, Saeid Rafizadeh-Tafti, Fatemeh Shojaeian, Mohammad Ali Khayamian, Fereshteh Abbasvandi, Mohammad Faranoush, Robab Anbiaee, Sahar Najafikhoshnoo, Parisa Hoseinpour, Sepanta Assadi, Pouyan Katebi, Zahra Davari Sh, Shahriar Shalileh, Mohammad Salemizadeh Parizi, Shohreh Vanaei, Mohammadreza Ghaderinia, Hamed Abadijoo, Payam Taheri, Mohammad Reza Esmailinejad, Hassan Sanati, Mohammad Reza Rostami, Reza Sadeghian, Yasin Kordehlachin, S M Sadegh Mousavi-Kiasary, Amir Mamdouh, Seyyed Hossein Miraghaie, Hossein Baharvand, Mohammad Abdolahad.

Selective Apoptosis:
- The study demonstrated that Positive Electrostatic Charges (PECs) could selectively induce apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines, including MCF-7 (hormone receptor-positive breast cancer) and MDA-MB-468 (triple-negative breast cancer) cells. The therapy showed significant reductions in cell viability, while normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A) were not adversely affected, highlighting the selectivity of PECs.
Mechanism of Action:
- PECs were found to disrupt the cytoskeleton and critical metabolic pathways in cancer cells, leading to apoptosis. This effect was particularly noted in MCF-7 cells, where PECs caused disruptions in the cell cycle and induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway, evidenced by changes in the expression of apoptosis-related proteins.
- MCF-10A Control: The lack of similar disruptions in MCF-10A cells underscores the specificity of PECs for malignant cells, making it a promising therapeutic approach with minimal risk to normal tissues.
In Vivo Validation:
- The study extended these findings to animal models, where tumors derived from MCF-7 cells were treated with PECs. Significant tumor reduction was observed in the treated animals, with no adverse effects on surrounding normal tissues, indicating that PECs could effectively target tumors without collateral damage.

Non-Invasive Cancer Treatment:
- PEC therapy offers a promising non-invasive treatment option for breast cancer, particularly for patients with tumors that are resistant to standard therapies. The ability to selectively target cancer cells like MCF-7 while sparing normal cells such as MCF-10A could lead to fewer side effects and better overall patient outcomes.
Potential for Metastatic and Hormone-Responsive Breast Cancer:
- Given the effectiveness of PECs in targeting both MCF-7 (hormone receptor-positive) and MDA-MB-468 (triple-negative) breast cancer cells, this therapy could be applied to a broad spectrum of breast cancer subtypes, including those that are metastatic or hormone-responsive.
Foundation for Human Trials:
- The strong preclinical evidence, particularly the selectivity demonstrated in both cancerous (MCF-7, MDA-MB-468) and non-cancerous (MCF-10A) cells, supports the initiation of human trials. Successful human trials could lead to PEC being integrated into treatment protocols for various types of breast cancer.