Effects of repeated exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic field on breast cancer cells.

PAPER pubmed Electromagnetic biology and medicine 2022 In vitro study Effect: mixed Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1080/15368378.2021.1995872 PMID: 34747307 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) is emerging as a novel approach in cancer treatment. This study evaluated the impact of daily exposure to 50 Hz EMF on breast cancer cells . The MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were exposed to EMF (50 Hz 20 mT, for 3 hours per day for up to four days) and examined for cell vaibility. The effect of daily ELF-EMF exposure on cell cycle progression and cell death was further investigated. The result revealed that the consecutive exposure to 50 Hz EMF at 20 mT remarkably decreased the viability of MDA-MB-231 compared to the non-exposed group, while it had no significant effect on MCF-7 cells. The ELF-EMF exposure induced G1 phase arrest along with the increase in sub-G1 cell population in MDA-MB-231. Moreover, repeated exposure to 50 Hz EMF promoted cell cycle progression in MCF-7 by increasing the percentage of cells in the S phase. The fluorescent staining revealed that daily exposure of ELF-EMF induced apoptotic cell death in MDA-MB-231, but no morphological change was observed in MCF-7 cells. The results showed that repeated daily exposure to 50 Hz EMF exhibited anti-proliferative activity against invasive breast cancer cells by impairing cell cycle progression and inducing cell death.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

mixed

Population

Breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7)

Sample size

—

Exposure

ELF · 0.05 MHz · 3 hours/day for up to 4 days

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Cells exposed to 50 Hz EMF (20 mT, 3 h/day up to 4 days) showed decreased viability in MDA-MB-231 versus non-exposed controls, with no significant viability effect in MCF-7. Exposure induced G1 arrest and increased sub-G1 population and apoptotic cell death in MDA-MB-231, while MCF-7 showed increased S-phase percentage and no morphological change.

Outcomes measured

Cell viability
Cell cycle progression (G1 arrest, S phase)
Sub-G1 cell population
Apoptotic cell death (fluorescent staining)
Cell morphology changes

Limitations

In vitro study (cell lines only)
Sample size/replication not reported in abstract
Exposure details beyond frequency, field strength, and schedule not reported in abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": null,
        "frequency_mhz": 0.05000000000000000277555756156289135105907917022705078125,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "3 hours/day for up to 4 days"
    },
    "population": "Breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Cell viability",
        "Cell cycle progression (G1 arrest, S phase)",
        "Sub-G1 cell population",
        "Apoptotic cell death (fluorescent staining)",
        "Cell morphology changes"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Cells exposed to 50 Hz EMF (20 mT, 3 h/day up to 4 days) showed decreased viability in MDA-MB-231 versus non-exposed controls, with no significant viability effect in MCF-7. Exposure induced G1 arrest and increased sub-G1 population and apoptotic cell death in MDA-MB-231, while MCF-7 showed increased S-phase percentage and no morphological change.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "In vitro study (cell lines only)",
        "Sample size/replication not reported in abstract",
        "Exposure details beyond frequency, field strength, and schedule not reported in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "ELF-EMF",
        "50 Hz",
        "20 mT",
        "breast cancer cells",
        "MDA-MB-231",
        "MCF-7",
        "cell viability",
        "cell cycle",
        "apoptosis"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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