Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and malignant primary intracranial tumor, and has a median survival of only 10 to 14 months with only 3 to 5% of patients surviving more than three years. Recurrence (RGBM) is nearly universal, and further decreases the median survival to only five to seven months with optimal therapy. Tumor-treating fields (TTField) therapy is a novel treatment technique that has recently received CE and FDA approval for the treatment of RGBM, and is based on the principle that low intensity, intermediate frequency electric fields (100 to 300 kHz) may induce apoptosis in specific cell types. Our center was the first to apply TTField treatment to histologically proven GBM in a small pilot study of 20 individuals in 2004 and 2005, and four of those original 20 patients are still alive today. We report two cases of GBM and two cases of RGBM treated by TTField therapy, all in good health and no longer receiving any treatment more than seven years after initiating TTField therapy, with no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence.

Abstract: The homeodomain transcription factors PHOX2A and PHOX2B are vital for development of the autonomic nervous system. Their spatial and temporal expression at the neural crest is instrumental in determining neuronal precursor fate, and by regulating DbetaH expression, the enzyme catalysing noradrenaline synthesis from dopamine, they also play a role in determination of noradrenergic phenotype. Disturbing this finely regulated process leads to disruption of autonomic development and autonomic dysfunction syndromes such as DbetaH deficiency. As it had previously been shown that the catecholamine system is responsive to ELF-EMF, and as this has also been linked to various pathologies and to certain types of cancer, we wondered whether exposure to this type of radiation could affect the expression of PHOX2A, PHOX2B and DbetaH, also during differentiation triggered by retinoic acid. To investigate this possibility we exposed the human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line to 50 Hz power-line magnetic field at various flux densities and for various exposure times. We measured gene expression in exposed cells compared to control cells and also investigated any changes at protein level. Using our exposure protocol, we found no changes at either transcript or protein level of these important components of the autonomic nervous system and catecholaminergic system.

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs) on human fetal scleral fibroblasts (HFSFs). HFSFs were subjected to 50 Hz artificial ELF-EMFs generated by Helmholtz coils with 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mT field intensities for 6 to 48 h. The viability and factors involved in scleral structuring of HFSFs were determined. The growth rate of HFSFs significantly decreased after only 24 h of exposure to ELF-EMFs (0.2 mT). The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of collagen type I (COL1A1) decreased and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) increased significantly. There was a decrease in tissue inhibitor of MMP-2 mRNA levels between treated and control cells only at the 1.0 mT intensity level. Transforming growth factor beta-2 mRNA increased in exposed cells, and, simultaneously, fibroblast growth factor-2 mRNA levels decreased. The protein expressions of COL1A1 and MMP-2 were also significantly altered subsequent to exposure (p < 0.05). This study shows that ELF-EMFs had biological effects on HFSFs and could cause abnormality in scleral collagen.