Extremely low frequency‐modulated static magnetic fields to treat cancer: A pilot study on patients with advanced neoplasm to assess safety and acute toxicity

Abstract

Results of a toxicity pilot human study approved by the competent ethical Committee are reported. Eleven patients with heavily pre-treated advanced cancer were enrolled in a pilot study with different schedules of time exposure to static magnetic fields (MF), amplitude modulated by ELF. An area including the neck, thoracic and abdomen was MF exposed daily, 5 days/week for 4 weeks according to two different schedules: 20 min daily (4 patients) and 70 min daily (7 patients). ECOG performance status was 1 (2 patients), 2 (8 patients), 3 (1 patient). Toxicity was assessed according to WHO criteria. ECG, Chest X-ray, physical examination, blood cell count and complete blood chemistry were performed before and at the end of the treatment. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (grade 2 toxicity) in 1 patient and microscopic urinary abnormalities in 5 patients were the only negative effects observed. We conclude that MF can be safely administrated according to the MF exposure schedules.

A pilot study of extremely low-frequency magnetic fields in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Effects on survival and palliation of general symptoms

“…Increased heart rate of 3-5 bpm and temperature increase of 0.5-1.0˚C was observed in 2 (15.4%) and 3 (23.1%) patients, respectively. We concluded that no severe toxicity or side-effects were detected in ELF-MFs treatment, which was in accordance with previous studies (5).…”

“…It has been reported that MFs with specific physical characteristics may be safely used to treat patients with advanced neoplasia, and the patients have a good tolerability (5,9). We reviewed the English language literature and found that studies mainly focused on basic experimental studies, while only one clinical study was found to assess the safety of MFs treatment for patients with cancer (5). However, at present, no clinical trial to investigate the effects of ELF-MFs on survival and palliation of general symptoms in patients with advanced neoplasia has been performed.…”

“…Ronchetto et al (5) hypothesized that the free radical recombination processes were influenced by MFs, which activated p53 gene-dependent survival mechanisms. Elson (6) reported the production of numerous breaks in DNA and the overwhelming of DNA repair processes, leading to the apoptotic process.…”

“…Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 20 kHz triangular MFs in the study of Lee et al (8) and the authors concluded that MFs did not increase toxicity in rats. In clinical research, Ronchetto et al (5) assessed acute toxicity in patients with advanced neoplasia who accepted static MFs treatment and concluded that MFs may be safely administrated according to the exposure schedules.…”

Beneficial Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation in Cancer

“…Results showed that MF-exposed patients present mild or no side effects. Furthermore, this pilot study supports the evidence that human exposure to MF with specific physical characteristics is associated with a favourable safety profile and good tolerability (Ronchetto et al, 2004). Kirson et al has reported, that exposure of cancer cell lines and tumour bearing animals to low-intensity, intermediate-frequency (100-300 kHz), alternating electric fields, revealed significant anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo (Kirson et al, 2004).…”