Electric fields offer new hope against aggressive brain cancer
More than a decade ago, Dr. Matthew Hebb was treating patients with Parkinson's disease using deep brain stimulation by implanting tiny electrodes into the brain and delivering electrical signals to control tremors. He wondered if the same basic technology could be used against brain cancer.
For over a decade, Dr. Matthew Hebb, a neurosurgery professor at Western University, has been exploring the potential of deep brain stimulation to treat brain cancer. He noticed that low-amplitude electric fields could disrupt the growth of glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and hard-to-treat brain tumors. This observation led to the development of Intratumoral Modulation Therapy (IMT), a novel approach that uses these electric fields to inhibit cancer cell division.
IMT has shown promising results in a recent study led by a Western-led research team. The study, published in Neuro-Oncology Advances, demonstrated that IMT can safely deliver stronger, dynamic electric fields directly to glioblastoma tumors in an animal model. The treatment resulted in an eightfold reduction in tumor growth, measured through bioluminescence, and a fivefold reduction in tumor volume, as observed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
The study's first author, Erin Iredale, an anatomy and cell biology professor at Western University, highlighted the significance of these findings. Glioblastoma is a devastating cancer with a median survival rate of just over a year, even with current treatments. IMT targets the rapid division of cancer cells, unlike traditional methods that aim to destroy the tumor outright.
The treatment works by applying chronic low-amplitude electric fields to the tumor, preventing cancer cells from dividing properly. This approach allows for precise targeting of the tumor while minimizing potential harm to surrounding healthy brain tissue. The researchers used multiple electrodes implanted around the tumor to create a rotating electric field, ensuring comprehensive coverage and reducing the likelihood of "cold spots" where cancer cells might evade treatment.
The treatment-planning system, developed by Iredale, allows physicians to personalize IMT for each patient based on their individual MRI scans. This system, which includes an optimization algorithm, could potentially be enhanced with artificial intelligence and machine learning in the future. While further research is needed before IMT can be tested in humans, the team is already working on advancing the treatment towards clinical application.
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