Correlation between electrical characteristics and biomarkers in breast cancer cells

Abstract

Both electrical properties and biomarkers of biological tissues can be used to distinguish between normal and diseased tissues, and the correlations between them are critical for clinical applications of conductivity (σ) and permittivity (ε); however, these correlations remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate potential correlations between electrical characteristics and biomarkers of breast cancer cells (BCC). Changes in σ and ε of different components in suspensions of normal cells and BCC were analyzed in the range of 200 kHz–5 MHz. Pearson's correlation coefficient heatmap was used to investigate the correlation between σ and ε of the cell suspensions at different stages and biomarkers of cell growth and microenvironment. σ and ε of the cell suspensions closely resembled those of tissues. Further, the correlations between Na+/H+ exchanger 1 and ε and σ of cell suspensions were extremely significant among all biomarkers (pε < 0.001; pσ < 0.001). There were significant positive correlations between cell proliferation biomarkers and ε and σ of cell suspensions (pε/σ < 0.05). The microenvironment may be crucial in the testing of cellular electrical properties. ε and σ are potential parameters to characterize the development of breast cancer.

Simulations of surface charge density changes during the untreated solid tumour growth

“…Until now, space-time distributions of E f are neither experimentally nor theoretically known. In this study, E f represents the active bioelectricity of unperturbed cancer and due to endogenous electrical biopotentials (ϕ) and/or intrinsic electrical sources in it [8,9,[14][15][16][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26]. Miklavcǐčet al [44] measure experimentally ϕ along axial (z-axis) and radial (r-axis) directions in two tumour types (LLC and fibrosarcoma Sa-1).…”

“…Furthermore, η 1 > η 2 and ε 1 > ε 2 have been explained because malignant tumours have a significantly higher water content, higher concentrations of ions and electrons, and altered cellular metabolism compared to those in the surrounding healthy tissue [6,[8][9][10]15,16,19,38]. Tumour borders play a crucial role in growth, metastasis, aggressiveness and anti-cancer therapy planning [1,4,38].…”

“…Several findings have been revealed, such as: (1) differences between electrical conductivities (η k , k = 1,2) and electrical permittivities (ε k , k = 1,2) of the untreated malignant tumour (k = 1) and the surrounding healthy tissue (k = 2) [11]; (2) these two physical properties as a potential diagnostic method [16]; (3) differences between ionic current (due to the movement of charged ions) and faradic current (produced by electrons exchange from reduction and/or oxidation of biochemical molecules) in cancer and surrounding healthy tissue [8]; (4) the existence of chemical and electrical (charged negatively) environments in cancer cells and untreated tumours [1,4,14] and their key roles in the genesis, growth, progression, metastasis and treatment of cancer [17]; (5) the impact of tumour microenvironment on its electrical properties [16]; (6) the breakdown of intercellular communication (gap junction) in the tumour due to low regulation in expression of the connexin [12,18]; (7) negative electrical biopotentials in the tumour and positive electrical biopotentials in the surrounding healthy tissue [12][13][14]; (8) cancer cells and some cells of the immune system negatively charged [14]; (9) weaker electrical coupling among cancer cells and the association of deregulation of intercellular communication with tumourigenicity and metastasis of the cancer [14,18]; (10) bioelectronic cancer regulator as an initiator of the mitosis and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis; and (11) correction of alterations in the electrical communication system of cancer by manipulating its bioelectrical properties, known as bioelectronic medicine [8].…”

“…This ionic imbalance, gene expression level, glutamate-dependent currents and both ionic and faradic currents explain the active cancer bioelectricity [8]. Furthermore, the ionic imbalance on both sides of the cancer cell membrane involved in the deregulation of ionic activity (a novel hallmark of cancer cells), altered membrane electrical potential difference (V mem ), shape change, pH, heterogeneity, phenotype, metabolism abnormalities, growth signalling, proliferation, tumourigenesis, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis of the cancer cells, as well as in the plasticity, heterogeneity and cellular networks of cancer [8,16,[19][20][21][22]. The intra-tumour heterogeneity and anisotropy have an essential role in its growth, metastasis and resistance to anti-cancer therapies [1,2,4].…”

An Injectible Cpw Fed Flexible Radiator With Wireless Charging for Proactive Breast Tumour Detection

“…They have their disadvantages like the cost of the device (MRI), exposure to radiation (X-Ray), and Misdiagnosis in ultrasound [9]. The breast tissues can be characterized based on the electrical permittivity and conductivity, which varies drastically for normal and cancerous tissues [10]. Wearable antenna arrays have been designed for breast cancer detection [11][12][13][14][15][16][17].…”