The effect of non‐contact electro capacitive cancer therapy on Tumorigenic agent‐ induced rat breast tumor angiogenesis

Researchers have explored a new cancer treatment called ECCT and found that it can affect blood vessel growth in breast cancer tumours. This treatment uses electrical fields to target tumours without harming normal breast tissue. The study showed that ECCT increases certain proteins that help form blood vessels in tumours, which might help fight cancer in a new way.

Key Findings:

1. Impact on Angiogenic Gene Expression in Normal Breast Tissues: ECCT exposure did not significantly alter the expression of Hif1α, Sp1, and Vegfa genes in normal breast tissues. This indicates that ECCT does not induce or suppress angiogenesis-related gene expression in non-cancerous cells, suggesting its safety for normal tissues.
2. Impact on Angiogenic Gene Expression in Tumorigenic agent-Induced Tumors: There was a significant increase in Vegfa expression in the INT (induced non-therapy) group, reflecting the tumor’s angiogenic response to Tumorigenic agent induction. Vegfa expression was notably lower in the IT (induced therapy) group following ECCT treatment, suggesting that ECCT effectively downregulates Vegfa expression in tumor tissues and potentially inhibits tumor angiogenesis. In addition, Hif1α expression significantly increased in the INT group, indicating a hypoxic response and angiogenic drive in the tumor. No significant change in Hif1α expression in the IT group post-ECCT treatment suggests that ECCT might mitigate the hypoxic conditions or the tumor’s response to hypoxia.
3. Vegfr2 Gene Expression and Protein Levels: Vegfr2 gene expression remained unchanged with ECCT exposure, supporting that ECCT does not adversely affect angiogenesis in normal tissues. Vegfr2 expression was significantly higher in the IT group compared to the INT group, suggesting that while ECCT downregulates Vegfa, it upregulates Vegfr2, indicating a shift towards Vegfr2-mediated angiogenesis. Immunohistochemistry confirmed increased Vegfr2 protein levels in the IT group, corresponding with the gene expression data. This suggests enhanced angiogenesis via a different pathway facilitated by Vegfr2.
4. Angiogenesis Assessment: The IT group showed a higher number of blood vessels compared to the INT group, indicating that ECCT impacts tumor vasculature. This might be due to the shift towards Vegfr2-mediated angiogenesis, resulting in enhanced blood vessel formation.
5. Safety and Non-Invasive Nature of ECCT: The lack of significant changes in angiogenic gene expression in normal breast tissues under ECCT exposure suggests its safety and minimal impact on non-cancerous cells.The downregulation of Vegfa and stabilization of Hif1α in tumor tissues indicate that ECCT can counteract the tumor’s angiogenic response without inducing significant hypoxia.
6. Mechanism of Action: The study indicates a shift in angiogenic pathways from Vegfa to Vegfr2 under ECCT. Vegfr2 is involved in stable and mature blood vessel formation, which might support immune cell infiltration and anti-tumor immunity. By downregulating primary angiogenic drivers and promoting Vegfr2 pathways, ECCT alters the tumor’s angiogenic landscape, potentially making it more susceptible to immune-mediated tumor suppression.
7. Therapeutic Implications: ECCT offers a non-invasive alternative to traditional therapies, reducing the need for surgical interventions and associated complications. ECCT can be combined with existing treatments, enhancing overall therapeutic efficacy and reducing side effects by modulating angiogenic pathways.