CCL2 and IL18 expressions may associate with the anti-proliferative effect of noncontact electro capacitive cancer therapy in vivo

ECCT, by potentially reducing the activity of specific genes within breast tumor cells, holds promise in slowing down their growth. This implication positions ECCT as a potentially groundbreaking approach in the treatment of breast cancer, offering a new avenue for combating this disease.

Key Findings

1. Effective Tumor Inhibition: The IT group showed significantly lower tumor growth rates compared to the INT group, indicating that ECCT effectively inhibits mammary tumor growth. Tumors in the IT group appeared softer and more fluid-like, suggesting altered tumor texture.
2. Histopathological Changes: Tumors in the IT group exhibited necrosis and apoptosis, characterized by blackening and detachment, which indicates effective tumor cell death and sloughing off of dead tissue. The IT group demonstrated significantly lower PCNA expression (p<0.01), indicating reduced cell proliferation, and lower ErbB2 expression (p<0.05), suggesting decreased tumor aggressiveness. Higher expression of caspase-3 (p<0.01) in the IT group indicated increased apoptosis. Additionally, elevated CD68 expression (p<0.01) suggested enhanced macrophage infiltration, likely contributing to tumor regression.
3. Immune Response Modulation: The IT group showed increased infiltration of macrophages likely of the M1 phenotype, promoting an anti-tumor response. Increased CD8+ T cell infiltration in the IT group, leading to a lower CD4/CD8 ratio, which is associated with a stronger anti-tumor immune response.
4. Molecular Analysis: The IT group exhibited significantly lower mRNA expression of CCL2 (15.29 fold change vs. 97.72 in INT) and IL18 (1.34 fold change vs. 2.08 in INT), indicating reduced pro-inflammatory and pro-tumorigenic signals. No significant differences in TNF-α and IL23α expression between IT and INT groups, suggesting these cytokines are not majorly affected by ECCT.
5. Safety and Efficacy: ECCT did not cause damage to non-tumor tissues, indicating its safety. The therapy selectively targets cancer cells, promoting tumor regression without harming normal tissues.