NUS Scientists Develop Breakthrough Magnetic Pulse Technique to Activate Muscle Cells to Fight Cancer
Researchers led by Associate Professor Alfredo Franco-Obregón from the NUS Institute for Health Innovation & Technology (iHealthtech) have introduced a novel method that uses brief, mild pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate muscle cells.
This technique prompts the production and release of anticancer proteins, which are then transported through the bloodstream to offer systemic protection against cancer.
This new method, detailed in the journal Cells on March 5, 2024, offers systemic cancer protection by transporting these proteins through the bloodstream.
Exercise is known to reduce cancer risks and improve survival rates, but many cancer patients are unable to exercise due to the debilitating effects of the disease and its treatments.
The new method builds on earlier research showing that low-energy magnetic fields enhance muscle development by promoting regenerative protein release. This study extends the approach to intact muscle tissues in preclinical models.
Findings indicated that magnetic therapy inhibited breast cancer cell growth, invasion, and migration, and reduced micro-tumor size and blood vessel formation.
Weekly 10-minute sessions of magnetic therapy over eight weeks had anticancer effects comparable to exercising twice a week for 20 minutes. HTRA1, a tumor suppressor protein released by muscle cells under magnetic stimulation, was identified as a key factor.
Removing HTRA1 reduced anticancer effects, while synthetic HTRA1 replicated the benefits of magnetic therapy and exercise.
The researchers plan to initiate clinical trials to assess the therapy’s effects in humans and explore additional anticancer biomarkers produced by muscle cells. This method shows promise as it leverages muscle's role in generating rejuvenating and disease-fighting factors.
