Synergistic cytotoxic effects of an extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field with doxorubicin on MCF-7 cell line

Abstract

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in women worldwide. Magnetic fields have shown anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo as a non-invasive therapy method that can affect cellular metabolism remotely. Doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most commonly used drugs for treating breast cancer patients. It can be assumed that combining chemotherapy and magnetotherapy is one of the most effective treatments for breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the potential cytotoxic effect of DOX at low concentrations in combination with extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF–EMF; 50 Hz; 20 mT). The breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was examined for oxidative stress, cell cycle, and apoptosis. MCF-7 cells were treated with various concentrations of DOX as an apoptosis-inducing agent and ELF–EMF. Cytotoxicity was examined using the MTT colorimetric assay at 12, 24, and 48 h. Consequently, concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxicity was observed in MCF-7 cells for DOX within 24 h. The MTT assay results used showed that a 2 μM concentration of DOX reduced cell viability to 50% compared with control, and as well, the combination of ELF–EMF and DOX reduced cell viability to 50% compared with control at > 0.25 μM doses for 24 h. In MCF-7 cells, combining 0.25 μM DOX with ELF–EMF resulted in increased ROS levels and DOX-induced apoptosis. Flow cytometry analysis, on the other hand, revealed enhanced arrest of MCF-7 cells in the G0-G1 phase of the cell cycle, as well as inducing apoptotic cell death in MCF-7 cells, implying that the synergistic effects of 0.25 μM DOX and ELF–EMF may represent a novel and effective agent against breast cancer.

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Enhances Doxorubicin-induced Reduction in the Viability of MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

“…In our PEMF system, treating cells with PEMF at 70 Hz and 2.5 mT showed no change in cell viability (Figure 1A). A recent paper has also shown that ELF-EMF at 50 Hz and 20 mT did not affect cell viability of MCF-7 cells [10] and the work of Loja et al [19] demonstrated that PEMF (15 Hz, 5 mT) did not change the growth of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma cell lines. On the other hand, a previous study has revealed that cell viability of MCF-7 is impaired when exposed to PEMF at frequencies of 20~50 Hz and amplitudes of 2~5 mT [20].…”

“…PEMF also induced a significant increase in the apoptosis of etoposidetreated MCF-7 breast cancer cells [9]. Recently, there was a study reporting that treatment with extremely low frequency (ELF)-EMF can increase the cytotoxic effect of DOX on MCF-7 breast cancer cells compared with treatment with DOX alone [10].…”

Enhancing the therapeutic potential of curcumin: a novel nanoformulation for targeted anticancer therapy to colorectal cancer with reduced miR20a and miR21 expression

“…Propidium iodide is effective in detecting DNA binding, specifically in dead cells HRT-1 within the cell population, as it cannot enter live cells because of intact membranes. In contrast, acridine orange can pass through cell membranes and bind to double-stranded DNA in live cells (Ramazi et al 2023).…”

Epigenetic regulation in lung cancer

“…Currently, standard treatments for most patients with lung cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drugs, or a combination of these treatments 320 . Targeted drugs can work differently from chemotherapy drugs.…”

“…Currently, standard treatments for most patients with lung cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted drugs, or a combination of these treatments. 320 Targeted drugs can work differently from chemotherapy drugs. Sometimes, when chemotherapy drugs are not more effective, they can work very well and also do not have the side effects of methods like chemotherapy.…”