TITLE:
Pulsed Modulation in Electro-Hyperthermia
AUTHORS:
Janos Szucs, Lajos Konyha, Gabor Kertesz, Andras Szasz
KEYWORDS:
Tumor, Pulsed Modulation, Nonthermal Excitation, Thermal Homeostasis, Cell-Killing, RF Current, Immunogenic Cell Death, Apoptosis
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Biophysics,
Vol.14 No.4,
October
15,
2024
ABSTRACT: Modulated electro-hyperthermia (mEHT) is one of the novel oncological treatments with many preclinical and clinical results showing its advantages. The basis of the method is the synergy of thermal and nonthermal effects, similar to the thermal action of conventional hyperthermia combined with ionizing radiation (radiotherapy). The electric field and the radiofrequency current produced both the thermal and nonthermal processes. The thermal effects produce the elevated temperature as a thermal background to optimize the nonthermal impacts. The low frequency amplitude modulation ensures accurate targeting and promotes immunogenic cell death to develop the tumor specific memory T cells disrupting the malignant cells by immune surveillance. This process (abscopal effect) works like a vaccination. The low frequency amplitude modulation is combined in the new method with the high power pulses for short time, increasing the tumor distortion ability of the electric field. The new modulation combination has much deeper penetration triplicating the active thickness of the effective treatment. The short pulse absorption increases the safety and decreases the thermal toxicity of the treatment, making the treatment safer. The increased power allows for reduced treatment time with the prescribed dose.